New York attack suspect charged with terrorism, Trump wants him dead
Sayfullo Saipov ‘felt good’ about Halloween truck attack that killed eight, prosecutors say, as he appears in court in wheelchair
US President Donald Trump has for a second time called for the death penalty for an Uzbek immigrant accused of ploughing a truck down a New York City bike path, killing eight people, describing the man as a “terrorist”.
Sayfullo Saipov, 29, who was wounded after he was shot by a police officer and arrested, told investigators he had been inspired by Islamic State videos and began planning Tuesday’s attack a year ago, according to a criminal complaint filed against him on Wednesday.
“NYC terrorist was happy as he asked to hang IS flag in his hospital room. He killed 8 people, badly injured 12. SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY!” Trump tweeted on Wednesday. He followed that on Thursday with: “Would love to send the NYC terrorist to Guantanamo but statistically that process takes much longer than going through the Federal system ... There is also something appropriate about keeping him in the home of the horrible crime he committed. Should move fast. DEATH PENALTY!”
Saipov was charged with one count of providing material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organisation, specifically Islamic State, and one count of violence and destruction of motor vehicles causing the deaths of eight people.
