Uzbekistan offers help in New York truck attack probe

Moscow: The president of Uzbekistan has offered to help US authorities in the investigation of the attack in New York where a truck driver, reportedly an Uzbek national, mowed down passers-by.

“Uzbekistan is ready to use all forces and resources to help in the investigation of this act of terror,” President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said, offering condolences to US President Donald Trump in a statement on the foreign ministry’s website.

Mirziyoyev’s statement did not officially confirm the identity or nationality of the attacker.

“We condemn any forms and manifestations of extremism and terrorism,” he said. “This merciless and very cruel crime cannot have any justification.”

Uzbekistan, a poor majority-Muslim former Soviet state in Central Asia, has become a source of recruits for the Islamic State and other militant groups, along with other Central Asian countries.

The International Crisis Group estimated this year that between 2,000 and 4,000 militants from Central Asia may have signed up under the banner of IS.

Meanwhile, in Vatican City, Pope Francis condemned recent terror attacks around the world, including the latest one in New York, saying he was “saddened” by events.

“I am saddened by the terrorist attacks in recent days in Somalia, Afghanistan and yesterday in New York,” the pope said during his Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square.

He asked people to pray that God “converts the hearts of terrorists and frees the world of hatred and murderous madness”. — AFP