A grand jury on Tuesday returned a 22-count indictment against an Uzbek immigrant accused of killing eight people during an ISIS-inspired truck attack on a bike path in New York City.
Sayfullo Saipov, 29, of Paterson, New Jersey, was charged in Manhattan federal court with providing material support to ISIS, along with eight counts of murder and 12 counts of attempted murder in aid of racketeering.
If convicted of the most serious counts, he could face life in prison or the death penalty.
Saipov was arrested after people were run over by a vehicle October 31 in a midday attack that authorities immediately labeled terrorism.
Of the eight people killed, five were friends from Argentina celebrating 30 years since their high school graduation. A Belgian woman, a New Yorker and a New Jersey man also lost their lives, and 12 others were injured.
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Indicted: A grand jury on Tuesday returned a 22-count indictment, charging Sayfullo Saipov with murder, attempted murder and terrorism counts
Police said Saipov used this pickup truck to mow down people on the West Side Highway in Manhattan on October 31 in the name of ISIS
The October 31 attack was the worst in the US financial capital since the September 11, 2001 Al-Qaeda hijackings that brought down the Twin Towers
His lawyer did not return a message seeking comment.
Saipov’s initial court appearance in connection with the indictment is scheduled for November 28. He is expected to enter a plea at that time.
In a release, Attorney General Jeff Sessions called the attack a ‘calculated act of terrorism in the heart of one of our great cities.’
Acting US Attorney Joon H. Kim said ‘scores of videos and images on his cellphone’ will be part of the evidence in the case against Saipov.
‘Like many terrorists before him, Saipov will now face justice in an American court,’ Kim said. ‘And like New York City’s response to his alleged attack, we expect that justice in this case will be swift, firm and resolute.’
William F. Sweeney Jr., head of New York’s FBI office, said the indictment should signal ‘that the rule of law will always prevail.’
‘When Sayfullo Saipov carried out his brutal attack last month, his intentions were to inflict significant damage, death and injury to innocent victims and terrorize this city,’ Sweeney added.
Victims: Five members of this group of Argentinian friends were also killed. They are Hernán Diego Mendoza (far left), Alejandro Damián Pagnucco (second from left), Ariel Erlij (third from left), Diego Enrique Angelini (second from right) and Hernán Ferruchi (third from right)
Saipov was shot by police during his arrest, but his injury was minor enough that he was able to appear in court in a wheelchair on November 1 (pictured in a sketch)
‘We announce today’s indictment with the understanding that nothing can ever reverse the unfortunate events of that day, or alleviate the pain and sorrow of the victims’ families.’
Saipov, held without bail, was charged with using a rental truck to mow down cyclists and pedestrians on a bike path.
Authorities said he made statements after his arrest about his allegiance to ISIS, which later took credit for the deadly attack, and told investigators he ‘felt good’ about the killings.
Saipov was shot in the abdomen by a police officer after crashing the truck into a school bus. His injury was minor enough that he was transferred to a prison facility in Manhattan two days later.
The terror suspect came to the US legally in 2010 from Uzbekistan, where officials say he had no history of trouble with the law. He first lived in Ohio, where he was a commercial truck driver, then in Florida. He most recently lived in New Jersey with his wife and children, and worked as an Uber driver.
Authorities said in court papers that Saipov told investigators he was inspired to carry out the attack after watching a video of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi questioning ‘what Muslims in the United States and elsewhere were doing to respond to the killing of Muslims in Iraq.’
Evidence against him includes what was found on two of his cell phones, according to court documents. Investigators said one phone contained 90 videos and other Islamic State propaganda, including one of a beheading and another of a tank running over a prisoner. The other phone showed a search for truck rental outlets.
President Donald Trump has called for Saipov to be executed, tweeting a day after the attack: ‘NYC terrosit was happy as he ased to hang ISIS flag in his hospital room. He killed 8 people, badly injured 12. SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY!’
A capital punishment case would be extremely rare in New York, which has abolished the death penalty at the state level.