Hundreds of mourners turned out in New York city on Thursday (November 2) evening for a candlelight march and vigil honoring the victims of a deadly truck attack.
The candlelight event started at Pier 40 on Manhattan’s west side, where the man charged in the attack is accused of initiating the assault.
From there, about 100 mourners walked to Pier 25, just north of where the truck crashed into a bus and the suspect was taken into custody.
Those attending the vigil spoke of the resilience of New York City and said they wanted to show their support for the relatives of the victims.
Sayfullo Saipov, 29, an Uzbek immigrant killed eight people and injured 12 others, in what authorities said was an act of terrorism.
He was charged in federal court on Wednesday (November 1) with acting in support of the Islamic State militant group by plowing the truck down a riverside bike trail, injuring a dozen people in addition to those killed.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, the group’s online publication said on Thursday.
It said in its weekly issue of Al-Naba newspaper that “the attacker is one of the caliphate soldiers.”
It did not give any evidence to support its claim.
U.S President, Donald Trump had suggested on Wednesday sending Saipov to the Guantanamo Bay military prison in Cuba, where terrorism suspects apprehended overseas are incarcerated.
But he said on Thursday doing so would be too complicated
