The terror attack which claimed the lives of eight people in New York City was carried out “in the name of IS”, police say.NYPD deputy commissioner of counter-terrorism John Miller said it appeared suspect Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov planned the truck rampage for several weeks.He added that as well as being found with two imitation firearms and “multiple knives”, the 29-year-old Uzbek national left handwritten notes at the scene which said “Islamic State will endure forever”.Saipov has never before been the subject of an NYPD or FBI investigation but “has some connectivity” with subjects under investigation, Mr Miller said.:: How the Manhattan terror attack unfolded In 2015, Saipov was interviewed by federal agents over possible ties to suspected terrorists, according to US media.President Trump has described the suspect as an “animal” who “brought in… other people” to the US and was “the main point of contact for 23 people”.Mr Trump said he would consider sending the suspected terrorist to Guantanamo Bay and vowed to dismantle the diversity immigrant visa programme, which he says allowed Saipov to immigrate to the US in 2010.:: Police officer ‘risked life’ to shoot NY suspect Earlier, the US President and Prime Minister Theresa May “discussed the need for an international approach to tackling poisonous terrorist ideology online” during a phone call.Saipov allegedly drove a rented truck down a crowded cycle path before being shot in the stomach by a police officer.He has been questioned by detectives in hospital but details of the conversations remain confidential, Mr Miller said.:: Analysis – New Yorkers urged to carry on The atrocity was New York City’s worst terror attack since 9/11.Of the 12 injured, one was forced to undergo a bilateral amputation and three others were also critically hurt.Five of those who died were part of a group from Argentina celebrating the 30th anniversary of their high school graduation.Two Americans and a Belgian woman who was in New York City with her mother and sister were also killed.City mayor Bill de Blasio said all of the victims “will be forever remembered as New Yorkers” as he insisted the attack won’t cause the city to “blink or change”.Meanwhile, New York governor Andrew Coumo denounced the “actions of a depraved coward” and urged New Yorkers to “come together and work for a common goal”.Officials have doubled the number of police officers patrolling key locations in the city, while more heavy weapons teams and canines will be dispatched to Sunday’s New York Marathon.
