Police suspect Uzbekistan immigrant behind the killings of eight in NY

Team Udayavani, Nov 1, 2017, 1:28 PM IST

New Jersey (USA): The US police suspect anUzbekistan immigrant to be the man behind the killing of eight people by racing a pickup truck down a New York City bike path on Tuesday.

Few other details about the 29-year-old suspect have emerged since the Tuesday afternoon vehicle rampage in lower Manhattan, blocks from the site of Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that destroyed the landmark World Trade Center Twin Towers.

An investigation agency has identified the suspect as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov and said he was not a U.S. citizen. His immigration status was not immediately clear.

Saipov was shot by a police officer while attempting to flee minutes after the attack and was whisked away to a local hospital, where he was recovering from an abdominal wound.

With authorities saying they believe the attack was a “terrorist event,” the lack of disclosure may reflect the nature of the investigation, which is still in its earliest stage.

According to CNN and other media outlets, the suspect shouted “Allahu Akbar” – Arabic for “God is greatest” – after leaping from his truck, which had crashed into a school bus as he sped away from the carnage.

He also left behind a note claiming he carried out the deadly assault in the name of the Islamic State militant group, according to reports that Reuters could not immediately confirm.