UPDATE: Police confirmed to Fox News that Saipov is not a U.S. citizen and is originally from Uzbekistan, a former Soviet republic east of the Caspian Sea in Central Asia.
Saipov entered the United States on Obama’s watch. He is among many sleeper cells spread throughout our country. Sanctuary cities are vulnerable to those who aspire to murder the innocent in the name of allah.
The driver who plowed into a group of people on Tuesday, killing 8, left behind handwritten notes pledging loyalty to ISIS along with an image of an ISIS flag inside his vehicle.
Sayfullo Saipov, 29, had the notes written in Arabic inside his Home Depot rental truck along with a picture of the ISIS flag, according to law enforcement sources.
The handwritten notes indicated that he had pledged allegiance to the terror group, the sources said.
The New York Times reported Tuesday night that Saipov had previously been on the radar of law enforcement as a result of an unrelated investigation.
It wasn’t clear if Saipov was the main target of that probe or just an associate of another figure being investigated, according to the report, which cited unnamed sources.
The New Jersey mosque that New York City terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov reportedly attended has been under surveillance by the New York Police Department since 2005, according to a published report.
The Omar Mosque in Paterson, N.J., located near Saipov’s home, is among multiple Muslim houses of worship in the New York metro area being studied by the NYPD as possible locations for “budding terrorist conspiracies,” NorthJersey.com reported.
An NYPD report from 2006 doesn’t link any criminal activity to the mosque, but says it “is believed to have been the subject of federal investigations.”
In the wake of Tuesday’s deadly truck attack in Lower Manhattan, police and the FBI swarmed areas in New Jersey to which Saipov was believed to have ties. They included the mosque, an apartment building, and other residences and storefronts.
Police confirmed to Fox News that Saipov is not a U.S. citizen and is originally from Uzbekistan, a former Soviet republic east of the Caspian Sea in Central Asia.
A suspect identified as 29-year-old Sayullo Saipov barreled into a bike path and crashed a truck into a crowd, shouting ‘Allahu Akbar,’ law enforcement sources have revealed.
President Trump reacted to the terror attack in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday by saying it was done by a “sick and deranged person.”
“In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person,” the president tweeted. “Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!”
In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!
Authorities said at least eight people died and nine were injured after a driver plowed into a bike path in New York on Tuesday afternoon. Police said they have taken a person, who was shot twice, into custody.
“My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack,” Trump said. “God and your country are with you!”
My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!
Meanwhile, the president vowed to stop the Islamic State from executing terror attacks in the United States.
“We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere,” Trump said. “Enough!”
We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!
Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, said the president has been briefed on the attack by chief of staff John Kelly and will be updated as “more details are known.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected,” Sanders said.
First lady Melania Trump also tweeted that her “heart breaks” for her hometown.
“My heart breaks for #NYC today,” she tweeted. “Thoughts & prayers as we monitor the situation.”
My heart breaks for #NYC today. Thoughts & prayers as we monitor the situation.
The FBI is investigating the incident as terrorism, Fox News has learned. It is being jointly investigated by both the New York Police Department and the FBI.
The Department of Homeland Security said its acting secretary, Elaine Duke, has also been briefed on “the apparent act of terrorism” and is “closely monitoring the situation and working with our federal, state and local partners in responding to and investigating this tragedy.”
“We have recently seen attacks like this one throughout the world,” the department said in a news release. “DHS and its law enforcement partners remain vigilant and committed to safeguarding the American people.”
Fox News’ Jake Gibson contributed to this report.