United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the death penalty should be given to the Uzbek immigrant accused of driving a truck into bikers in New York, and killing eight of them.
The President also called Sayfullo Saipov a “terrorist” on Twitter.
Saipov, 29, was hospitalised after he was shot by a police officer and arrested. He told investigators that he was inspired by watching Islamic State videos and began planning Tuesday’s attack a year ago, a criminal complaint filed against him said, Reuters reported.
Trump’s tweet mentioned Saipov’s request to authorities to display the flag of the Islamic State group in his hospital room. He waived his right to remain silent and confessed that he “felt good about what he had done” after the attack.
Prosecutors said Saipov, who was earlier identified as an Uber driver, had planned his attack for Halloween as the streets would be crowded. He also wanted to display Islamic State group flags on his truck, but decided against it as it would draw attention, they said.
Saipov was charged with providing material support and resources to a foreign terrorists and of violence and destruction of motor vehicles causing death. Manhattan acting US Attorney Joon Kim said the first count carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, while the second would make Saipov eligible for capital punishment, if the government chose to seek the death penalty, the Reuters report said.
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