Last Halloween, a terrorist driving a rental truck plowed into bicyclists and pedestrians on the Greenway bike path along the West Side Highway near Battery Park. In his act of terror, Sayfullo Saipov killed 8 people and injured 13 others after he entered the bike path North of Chambers Street and drove 14 blocks down the path, striking bicyclists and pedestrians on his way. The police were able to stop him after he slammed into a school bus at the Chambers Street intersection and tried to run away on foot.
According to the authorities, Saipov was inspired by the Islamic Sate group when he committed his act of terror. He is now behind bars and held without bail. He pleaded not guilty but the federal prosecutors announced on Friday that they are seeking the death penalty which is extremely rare in New York. The last time it occurred was in 1953 for Julius and Ethel Rosenberg.
Our firm represents most of the victims of the terror attack and while this decision by the federal prosecutors will satisfy the families of the victims it will never make up for their losses.