MASSACRE INMANHATTAN
8 dead in New York as driver plows down bike path in ‘ act of terror’
NEWYORK – A suspected terrorist in a rented pickup plowed through a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday, striking and killing eight people, then emerged screaming and brandishing “imitation firearms” before he was shot by police.
The stunning attack, just hours before the city’s Halloween parade and festivities were to kick off, was confirmed as terrorism by authorities at a late- afternoon news briefing. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo urged New Yorkers to be vigilant — but not afraid.
“This was an act of terror and a cowardly act of terror,” de Blasio said, noting that New York City won’t react with fear. “We will respond as we always do. We will be undeterred.”
The afternoon attack began with a
driver careening on to a pedestrian walkway and bike path, running over pedestrians and cyclists, NewYork police said via Twitter. Witnesses described a horrific scene with people diving from the path of the speeding truck.
Lawenforcement officials identified the driver as Sayfullo Saipov, 29, the Associated Press and FoxNews reported. Witnesses told police the attacker yelled, “Allahu Akbar!”—“God is great” in Arabic — as he got out of the truck, AP reported, citing an official who was not authorized to discuss the case publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Asked about that at a news conference, New York City Police Commissioner James O’Neill replied: “Yeah. He did make a statement when he exited the vehicle.” He said the statement and the method of attack led police to conclude it was a terrorist act.
The attack seemed haphazard on some level but is similar to terror attacks around theworld in which terrorists use simple methods — such as a speeding truck into a crowd— to inflict casualties.
“There are several fatalities and numerous people injured,” police tweeted shortly after the carnage began. “The vehicle continued south, striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms and was shot by NYPD.”
In addition to the eight killed, nine people were injured, police said. Cuomo called the suspect, who is being treated at an undisclosed hospital, a “lone wolf ” attacker with terrorist intentions.
“To New Yorkers, be New Yorkers. Live your life,” Cuomo said.
Joseph Pentangelo, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, said counterterrorism units — officers with heavy artillery and tactical gear — were deployed to airports, bridges and tunnels. He said the officers also were dispatched to sweep PATH stations.
Pentangelo said there were no lockdowns at the area’s three major airports. He said that the Holland and Lincoln tunnels were open but that traffic was backed upmore than usual.
“It’s rush hour, and there was traffic anticipated tonight anyway,” Pentangelo said, alluding to the Village Halloween Parade, which was expected to attract thousands of people. The 7 p. m. parade proceeded but with heavy security.
President Trump was briefed on the attack and 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.!”
Also briefed was Acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke, the department said in a statement Tuesday evening.
“The Department is closely monitoring the situation andworking with our federal, state and local partners in responding to and investigating this tragedy,” the statement said.