New York City was hit by a terrorist attack Monday, October 31 as its citizens were marking the historic holiday of Halloween.
The suspected terrorist drove a pick-up truck into a crowd of bicycle riders and pedestrians, killing 8 and injuring 11.
In the aftermath of the attack, Donald Trump tweeted that he would order for ‘extreme vetting’ to ensure such attacks are dealt with. This is notwithstanding the fact that the suspect is a legal resident of the US with Uzbek origins.
The BBC reports…
Five friends from Argentina were among those killed in a truck attack in New York on Tuesday.
Eight people were killed and 11 injured when the driver of the truck hit people on a cycle path in Lower Manhattan.
A 29-year-old man, reported to be an Uzbek immigrant, was shot and injured by police as he left the vehicle.
US President Donald Trump has ordered the Department of Homeland Security to “step up” vetting measures in the wake of the attack.
The suspect reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” (“God is greatest”) as he left the truck. Officials said it was a terror attack – the deadliest in the city since the 11 September attacks.
A note was found in the truck that referred to so-called Islamic State, law enforcement sources were quoted as saying by US media.
The NYPD said only that the attacker was a 29-year-old man.
However, US media named him as Sayfullo Saipov, who had reportedly lived in Tampa, Florida, and Paterson, New Jersey.
He arrived to America from Uzbekistan in 2010 and is believed to be a legal resident in the country. Car-share service Uber confirmed he had been working for them.