Sayfullo Saipov, the main suspect in the Manhattan truck attack that left eight people dead, says he intended to kill as many people as possible during Halloween celebrations.

The 29-year-old Uzbek immigrant, told investigators he “felt good” about the attack, which he had been planning for a year.

Sayfullo Saipov, who faces federal terrorism charges, says he was inspired by ISIS. He was shot and injured by police at the scene.

President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter: “NYC terrorist was happy as he asked to hang ISIS flag in his hospital room. He killed 8 people, badly injured 12. SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY!”

Image source St. Charles County Department of Corrections

Manhattan Truck Attack: Suspect Sayfullo Saipov Was Inspired by ISIS

Manhattan Truck Attack: At Least Eight People Killed and Numerous Injured

The charges filed against Sayfullo Saipov are federal, which means the government can override New York state’s ban on capital punishment.

Sayfullo Saipov appeared in court in a wheelchair 24 hours after mowing down cyclists and pedestrians on a bike lane in Lower Manhattan on October 31.

Six people died at the scene and two more in hospital. Twelve people were injured, four of whom remain in critical condition.

Prosecutors say Sayfullo Saipov spoke freely to them, waiving his right to avoid self-incrimination while in custody.

According to federal court papers, the suspect said the attack was planned two months ago, and he carried out a trial run with a rental truck last month. He intentionally chose Halloween because he believed there would be more people in the streets. Sayfullo Saipov originally planned to target the Brooklyn Bridge as well and he wanted to display ISIS flags on the truck, but decided not to draw attention to himself.

Sayfullo Saipov was inspired by 90 propaganda videos found on his phone – in particular, one in which ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi asks what Muslims are doing to avenge deaths in Iraq.

He is also accused of providing material support and resources to ISIS.

Sayfullo Saipov, the man accused of killing 8 people in Lower Manhattan by driving a truck down a cycle lane, was inspired by ISIS, police say.

NYPD Deputy Commissioner John Miller said that notes in Arabic claiming the attack on behalf of ISIS were recovered from the scene of the attack in New York.

Sayfullo Saipov, a 29-year-old Uzbek immigrant, was shot and injured by police.

The suspect is in hospital and under arrest.

John Miller said: “Based on the investigation overnight, it appears that Mr. Saipov had been planning this for a number of weeks.

“He did this in the name of ISIS, and along with the other items recovered at the scene was some notes that further indicate that.

“He appears to have followed almost exactly to a ‘T’ the instructions that ISIS has put out in its social media channels before, with instructions to their followers on how to carry out such an attack.”

One of the notes said “the Islamic State would endure forever”, the deputy commissioner added.

Image source Fox News

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Police have sealed off Sayfullo Saipov’s home in Paterson, New Jersey, and are searching the premises.

ISIS has suffered a series of military setbacks in Syria and Iraq in recent months as US-backed forces take back territory the group considers its “caliphate”.

NYC has increased the police presence at key transport hubs, and there will be additional uniformed and plain-clothes police on duty at Sunday’s New York Marathon.

President Donald Trump said he was taking steps to end the diversity lottery program – the immigration system under which the suspect entered the country.

The president also attacked the US justice system, and said he would consider sending the suspect to the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

“We also have to come up with punishment that’s far quicker and far greater than the punishment these animals are getting right now,” he said.

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo have both praised the resilience of New Yorkers – and urged people not to “politicize” a tragedy that took eight lives.

Andrew Cuomo said the attacker was believed to have acted alone, telling reporters: “He is a depraved coward, is what he is, and he was associated with ISIS, and he was radicalized domestically.”

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Cuomo also suggested New York’s strict gun control laws had ensured that high-powered weapons could not get into the hands of terrorists.

Sayfullo Saipov rented the truck from a New Jersey branch of retailer Home Depot on October 31 before driving to NYC and entering the bike lane, police said.

Video cameras show the truck driving at very high speed, appearing to target bike riders and pedestrians.