Suspect in New York attack reportedly left a note in truck pledging loyalty to ISIS
- Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, the suspect in the terror attack in New York, reportedly left a note inside his truck pledging loyalty to the Islamic State.
- ISIS propaganda channels have called for similarly styled attacks and have instructed prospective terrorists to leave notes on their motive.
Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, the suspect in the terror attack in New York City, left a note inside his truck pledging loyalty to the Islamic State, multiple news outlets reported Tuesday.
ISIS propaganda materials have called for similarly styled attacks, using a vehicle as a weapon and leaving notes that proclaim loyalty to the terrorist organization. New York Times correspondent Rukmini Callimachi also noted that ISIS had put out posters calling for attacks on Halloween.
Saipov, an Uzbek national who reportedly resided in Florida and New Jersey, plowed into cyclists and pedestrians in a rented Home Depot pickup truck on Tuesday afternoon, killing eight and injuring nearly a dozen others, police said. Police said the suspect drove 10 blocks in the wrong direction before striking a school bus.
Saipov then exited the vehicle, brandished a paintball gun and pellet gun, and was subsequently shot in the abdomen by a police officer, according to New York Police Department commissioner James O'Neill.
Multiple news agencies reported that Saipov shouted "Allahu Akbar," which translates to "God is great" in Arabic, as he exited the rented truck. Police said he "made a statement" when he left the vehicle.
Saipov is out of surgery from an undisclosed hospital and in custody, sources said to CNN late Tuesday.