Past of bike path suspect scoured
Saipov probe could reveal other plots, anti-terrorist officials say
NEW YORK — From his hospital bed, Sayfullo Saipov proudly told investigators how he had rented a truck and used it to fatally run down cyclists and pedestrians on a New York City bike path, all in the name of the Islamic State.
He assured them he acted alone. U.S. counter-terrorism agents want to be sure.
Since the attack that killed eight people, New York Police and the
FBI have been working to study his past, question his family and friends, examine his cellphone and online activity and hunt for clues that might identify others plotting similar attacks.
The search has revealed instances where Saipov had contact with other people who had drawn law enforcement scrutiny.
“What we are looking for is how has he touched the subjects of other investigations, what is his connectivity to those people,” said John Miller, the NYPD’S top counterterrorism official.
Saipov, 29, came to the U.S. legally in 2010 from Uzbekistan, where officials say he had no history of trouble. He first lived in Ohio, where he was a commercial truck driver, then Florida. He most recently lived in New Jersey with his wife and children, working as an Uber driver.
Since Saipov’s arrest, investigators have tried to determine if he had interactions with any other terror suspects.
Agents have also interviewed many people who knew Saipov, including a friend who was questioned for hours over several days. So far, that man, a fellow immigrant from Uzbekistan, is only considered to be a witness, according to two law enforcement officials.
Investigators have interviewed Saipov’s wife, who was cooperative but provided no clues, and visited a New Jersey mosque where the defendant was living, according to sources.
The FBI in Ohio also has questioned members of an Uzbek community about Saipov. And it’s certain investigators would seek to speak to 23 other people who President Donald Trump said listed Saipov as a contact on immigration forms.