By Alexandra D’Angelo || Staff Writer
On October 31, 2017, Manhattan experienced an act of terror that many will never forget. Eight people were killed and twelve more were injured when a man by the name of Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov ran down all these people by driving his truck on a busy bike path. Not only did this deplorable act occur on Halloween, it all happened very close to the World Trade Center bringing back memories of the day we will never forget 16 years ago.
New York City mayor Bill de Blasio commented right after the attack occurred, stating, “This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror, aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them.”
When police were able to stop the vehicle and gun down the suspect, authorities found a note near the truck stating that the attack was made in the name of ISIS. Police shot Saipov and wounded him. He had surgery and is now in police custody. However, there is no word yet if Saipov has confessed anything to authorities.
President Donald Trump tweeted after the incident stating, “looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person.” Trump also wrote in a later tweet, “My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!” Also after the incident, New York governor Governor Cuomo ordered that One World Trade Center be lit in red, white and blue in honor of democracy and freedom.
The suspect rented a Home Depot truck to carry out the attack. Saipov hopped the curb on West Houston Street and drove south on the west side of the West Side Highway in lower Manhattan, and he did this for several blocks. After driving for several blocks, he crashed into a school bus, Saipov then left the vehicle. At this point he was shot and taken into custody. 6 people were declared dead at the scene and two more were pronounced dead at the hospital.
Five of those that were killed were a group of Argentinians. They were a group of friends celebrating their 30th anniversary of graduating from the Instituto Politécnico Superior in Rosario, Argentina.
One witness, Eugene Duffy, had just left work at Pier 26 and was waiting to cross the street when he saw the incident take place. Duffy says in a statement, “I look down and I see a white pickup truck a couple of more blocks down in the bike path. Automatically, I knew something’s wrong. Then, as I go down more toward where the girl is screaming, I see two gentlemen laying there and they have tire tracks marked across their bodies. You could tell they both weren’t here.”
This incident is truly heartbreaking. It is the common hope that authorities will be able to get Saipov to confess in order to gather information and prevent future attacks.
First-year Alexandra D’Angelo is a staff writer. Her email is adangelo@fandm.edu.