8 Killed in New York Terror Attack – Photos
A pickup driver has killed eight people in New York City, mowing down cyclists and pedestrians, before striking a school bus in the city’s first deadly attack blamed on terror
Jamal Lewis, a 17-year-old student who witnessed the attack told The Daily Telegraph: “I was walking down West street and heard a loud noise behind me. I saw the white pickup truck run over two cyclists and carried on. People were around their bodies, but they were dead. There was no screaming, people were in shock.”
The truck smashed into a yellow school bus, injuring children and adults and leaving sizable dents in both vehicles.
The crash happened just a few blocks from World Trade Center memorial.
The attacker was left injured but not incapacitated. Stumbling from the car, he pulled out what appeared to be two guns – but were later confirmed to be a paintball and pellet gun.
Uber has confirmed that the man suspected of carrying out the attack was one of its drivers.
The ride-hailing service released a statement on Tuesday night saying 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov passed a background check to become an Uber driver. Saipov has now been banned from the Uber app.
“Allahu Akbar”, he begun to shout – “God is Great” in Arabic – as passersby screamed and ran in all directions.
James O’Neill, the city’s police chief, confirmed that the suspect made a statement that suggested terrorism as a motive when he exited the vehicle.
