The driver who killed eight pedestrians and injured at least a dozen people, including two children, when he barreled down a New York City bike path in a rented pickup truck has been identified as Sayfullo Saipov, law enforcement officials told the Associated Press.
Saipov, 29, was taken into custody following the attack, during which he drove a rented Home Depot pickup truck 20 blocks down a bike path that goes along the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan. After hitting numerous pedestrians and bicyclists, Saipov struck a school bus. He then exited the truck with a paintball gun and pellet gun, and shouted, “Allahu akbar,” a law enforcement official told the Associated Press. The phrase means “God is great” in Arabic.
The assault bore similarities to incidents carried out in Europe by attackers affiliated with the Islamic State, including in Nice, France in July 2016 and Berlin in December 2016. While there was no immediate announcement from the Islamic State claiming responsibility for this attack from the Islamic State, law enforcement found a handwritten note declaring allegiance to the Islamic State inside the rented truck, the Post reported.
Saipov was shot by a police officer, taken into custody and transported to a local hospital. Law enforcement officials told the AP Saipov is in surgery and is expected to survive. Authorities said there were no other suspects.
Who was Sayfullo Saipov?
The 29-year-old is originally from Tashkent, Uzbekistan and immigrated to the United States in 2010, according to the Associated Press. Saipov initially stayed in Cincinnati for about two weeks with the family of his father’s friend, according to a member of the host family quoted by the Washington Post.
Where did he live?
Court records indicate Saipov had an address in Tampa, Fl., and may have also identified as Fayfullo Faipov at one point. He is believed to have been most recently living in Patterson, New Jersey with his wife and three children, ABC reported. Saipov reportedly rented the truck he used to carry out the attack in New Jersey.