Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
NEW YORK TERROR ATTACK
Eight dead and 12 injured as gunman drives pick-up truck down cycle lane
EIGHT people were killed last night when a terrorist driving a pick-up truck tore down a cycle lane in New York.
The killer – named as Sayfullo Saipov, 29, from Florida – crashed into a school bus before getting out of the vehicle brandishing two guns. He was shot in the stomach by police and taken to hospital.
New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said: “This was a particularly cowardly act of terror.”
Trump: ‘Another attack by sick and deranged person’
TERROR descended on New York City last night as a man driving a pick-up truck killed eight people and injured at least 12 more.
Witnesses described scenes of horror as the vehicle sped down a bike lane for several blocks, ploughing into cyclists and pedestrians before finally smashing into a school bus.
The driver got out brandishing two guns and reportedly yelled “Allahu akbar!” – Arabic for God is great – before being shot in the stomach by police.
Having survived the wound, he was arrested and taken to hospital.
The suspect was last night named as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, originally from Uzbekistan.
The 29-year-old was living in Tampa, Florida, but had previously stayed in Ohio after moving to the States 10 years ago.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio described the incident in Lower Manhattan as “a particularly cowardly act of terror”.
He continued: “Let me be clear, based on the information we have at this moment, this was an act of terror.
“It was intended to break our spirit. But New Yorkers are resilient. We will be undeterred.” Mr de Blasio asked
New Yorkers to remain vigilant while vowing to put hundreds more police on the streets.
Yesterday’s atrocity unfolded shortly after
3pm local time. The suspect had rented the truck from DIY firm Home
Depot and was armed with a pellet gun and paintball gun. Eyewitnesses said they heard around 15 gunshots, most of which are believed to have been fired by police.
One said: “Jesus! A car just ran over two people and then crashed into a school bus. I see two dead bodies and Citibikes on the floor destroyed.”
Another added: “We thought it was a Halloween thing. He [the driver] started running down the highway. I heard four to six gunshots – everybody starts running.”
John Williams, 22, said he arrived 30 seconds after the shots were fired. He added: “I saw one man lying on the ground being looked after by paramedics and cops, another man getting arrested and what seemed like another man running towards the Hudson River. “I came out and saw a man holding two guns. I could still smell the gunfire. It was a very strong scent.”
Photos showed the smashed-up truck and two mangled bikes. Police refused to say if they knew the killer was a “lone wolf” or part of larger terror cell.
Home Depot confirmed one of the firm’s rental trucks was involved in an incident and said the company was “co-operating with authorities”.
Two hours after the attack, President Donald Trump tweeted: “In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person.
“Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!”