Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a message of support to U.S. President Donald Trump, stating that Israel “stands with our friends in New York and all Americans following yet another horrible Islamist terror attack. We pray for the victims and their families. Together we will defeat this scourge.” Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon expressed his condolences to U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley following the Islamic terror attack in New York, which left eight dead and scores wounded.
“Just as the U.S. has always stood by our side in our times of need, Israel will always stand with America in the fight against terror,” Danon stated. He conveyed Israel’s condolences to the families of those killed and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.
The terrorist, 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, originally of Uzbekistan, mowed down pedestrians and cyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Center memorial on Tuesday, killing at least eight and seriously injuring 11 in what Mayor Bill De Blasio called “a particularly cowardly act of terror.”
The driver was shot in the abdomen by police after jumping out of the truck with what turned out to be a fake gun in each hand and shouting what witnesses said was “Allahu Akbar,” Arabic for “God is great,” authorities said. The man underwent surgery and was in critical condition but was expected to survive.
The driver in Tuesday’s attack barreled along the bike path in a rented Home Depot truck for the equivalent of about 14 blocks, or around eight-tenths of a mile, before slamming into a small yellow school bus. The mayhem and the burst of police gunfire set off panic in the neighborhood and left the pavement strewn with mangled bicycles and bodies that were soon covered with sheets.
“I saw a lot of blood over there. A lot of people on the ground,” said Chen Yi, an Uber driver.
Two law-enforcement officials said a note was recovered inside the truck. The contents were being investigated, but the officials said the document supported the belief the act was terrorism.
The Israeli-American Council said, “In the strongest possible terms, we condemn all acts of terrorism—whether in London, Nice, Jerusalem, or New York—and stand against the evil ideology that fuels them.”
Among those killed in the terror attack were five Argentine men, one of whom was Jewish businessman Ariel Erlij. He was in New York as part of a 30th college reunion vacation with his former classmates.
“Profoundly moved by the tragic deaths this afternoon in NY. We place ourselves at the disposition of the families of the Argentinian victims,” Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri tweeted.
By United With Israel Staff and combined sources
