Tragedy has struck #NewYork once again in a deadly Attack upon random citizens. News reports have displayed scenes of damaged vehicles, bodies covered by sheets, and police flooding the streets; but what do we know so far?
What Happened?
On #Halloween afternoon in New York, at around 3’o clock (GMT-4), a rented white pick-up truck was seen to have mounted a cyclist pavement near the Hudson River, striking down multiple cyclists and pedestrians. This truck then carried on for another seventeen blocks until it smacked into a school bus full of children on Chambers Street - just four blocks away from the World Trade Centre Memorial.
The carnage left bodies and devastation in its wake. It has now been confirmed that eight people were killed and a further eleven have been injured – including five Argentinians tourists.
According to eye-witnesses reports, a lone man jumped out of the wrecked vehicle “dressed in all black, with an overgrown beard, carrying two guns”. The suspect then fled on foot, before being surrounded by police; the suspect was shot in the stomach but has remained alive.
Who is the Suspect?
From the information the New York Police Department has released, the suspect from yesterday's terror attack appears to have been identified as Sayfullo Habibullaevic, an immigrant from Uzbekistan. Sources close to the suspect have revealed Sayfullo is 29 years-old, and currently residing in Paterson, New Jersey with his family.
Since the events unfolded, it has been confirmed by Chief of Police James O’Neil, that this event was indeed a #terrorist attack. O’Neil goes on to describe it as “a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians”. When the suspect exited the crashed truck, several witnesses have disclosed how they heard him shout "Allahu Akbar" - meaning "God is most great" in Arabic.
There is also a proficient report stating that there was a letter left in the truck stating the suspect pledges his allegiance to Allah and the Islamic faith. This attack has been the biggest loss of life at the hands of terrorism in New York since 9/11.
Something to remember
As well as other attacks that have occurred throughout the UK, France, Spain and Germany, there is a need to recognise that this was not an attack by the Muslim faith or community.
This is the doing of religious extremists, who have been brainwashed and synthesised into terrorists. Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob rightly stresses that “terror does not have a religion or a skin colour!”.
In the wake of these acts of terror, there is a hope that society will unite to defy these tragic events and twisted ideologies - and focus wholly on remembering the eight loved individuals, who tragically lost their lives in a time of joy and happiness with their friends and loved ones.
