NY truck attack suspect charged with terrorism

US Federal prosecutors have formally charged Uzbek immigrant Sayfullo Saipov with causing the deaths of at least eight people in New York by mowing then down in a truck.

He is also accused of providing material support to terrorists.

As the truck which was used by Saipov as a weapon was finally removed from the scene in Lower Manhattan,
the FBI said it had located another Uzbek man whom it is questioning in connection with Tuesday’s attack.

The response to the incident from President Donald Trump has been to promise stricter US immigration laws that let Saipov into the country declare that he might send him to Guantanamo Bay.

“My administration is coordinating closely between federal and local officials to investigate the attack and to further investigate this animal who did the attacking [...] Send him to Gitmo. I would certainly consider that, yes.”

By sending Saipov to the military prison in Cuba it classifies him as an enemy combatant and would curtail his legal rights.

“ We have to get much tougher. We have to get much smarter and we have to get much less politically correct,” added Trump.

More is becoming known of the eight victims who died in the attack. Amateur video was taken of five Argentines who had been in New York to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their graduation. Two Americans and one Belgian citizen also died in the attack. Another dozen were injured.

In a show of solidarity with the victims and their families New Yorkers were joined by visitors to the city in holding a vigil.