Bike path killer’s dad apologizes, weeps at trial

West Side bike path terrorist Sayfullo Saipov’s father wept uncontrollably at his son’s death penalty trial in Manhattan Federal Court on Thursday.

Habibulloh Saipov broke down on the stand as he talked about how his son mowed down people on a lower Manhattan bike path along the Hudson River on Halloween 2017.

“He committed a terrible tragedy,” the elder Saipov said. “He caused death for eight people and injuries for many more, and he ruined their lives.”

His son’s crimes destroyed his soul, the father said, adding, “I am feeling very bad about this, and I would like to apologize in front of everyone, all victims.”

As the emotionally charged testimony ended with Saipov’s father saying he would likely never see him again, Saipov’s uncle, seated in the gallery, had a dramatic outburst.

He loudly smacked a door with his fist and screamed an unintelligible remark. A court interpreter later translated what was said as, “Dirty ISIS bastards.”

The display prompted relatives of slain Belgian woman Ann-Laure Decalt to burst into tears, and Judge Vernon Broderick to request medical attention for one of them.

Broderick later banned Saipov’s uncle from the courthouse. He told jurors to disregard the outburst without telling them exactly what was said, only clarifying that it “was an expression of anguish and was not directed at the court, the jury, the prosecutors, defense counsel, or this process.”

Saipov’s lawyer queried his father about whether the family’s religious beliefs aligned with his client’s actions when he barreled down a bike path in a rented flatbed truck, killing eight and injuring more than a dozen.

Jurors have heard how Saipov told authorities he carried out the bloodshed to avenge the deaths of Muslims worldwide by attacking Americans on their home soil.

“Is there anything you know of in your faith that can justify what your son did?” the defense attorney asked Saipov’s father, who traveled from Uzbekistan.

“No, there is nothing that would justify this,” he said.

Habibulloh Saipov said when they learned what his son did, his wife was hospitalized and he was detained and interrogated for two weeks. The testimony elicited a rare expression of emotion from Saipov, who has remained stoic throughout the trial.

At one point, while his father was crying, Saipov appeared to wipe away tears.