President Donald Trump doubled down on his demand that the death penalty be imposed on the man suspected of killing eight people in a terror attack in New York, after prosecutors offered the clearest outline yet of Sayfullo Saipov’s state of mind.
Mr Trump on Thursday rowed back from his suggestion that the 29-year-old Uzbek immigrant be sent to the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay but again risked imperilling the prosecution by demanding his execution even before any evidence has been presented in court.
“Would love to send the NYC terrorist to Guantánamo but statistically that process takes much longer than going through the Federal system,” he wrote on Twitter. “There is also something appropriate about keeping him in the home of the horrible crime he committed. Should move fast. DEATH PENALTY!”
Saipov made his first appearance in court on Wednesday afternoon. He was brought from hospital where he is being treated for gunshot wounds.
The court in Lower Manhattan is only a few blocks from where he is accused of driving a rented pickup through a crowd of cyclists.
He wore a grey tracksuit and sat quietly in a wheelchair. His hands and feet were shackled as he was charged with providing material support to ISIL and one count of violence and destruction of a motor vehicle causing death.
Prosecutors filed a 10-page criminal complaint offering extraordinary insight into his methods and motivations. Investigating officers said Saipov waived his right to silence from his hospital bed and appeared unapologetic about his actions.
"During the interview with law enforcement, Saipov requested to display ISIL's flag in his hospital room and stated that he felt good about what he had done," reads the complaint.
FBI agents found about 90 videos on his cell phone, including footage of ISIL fighters killing prisoners, and thousands of pieces of extremist propaganda.
Saipov told officers he began planning his attack two months ago after being inspired by a speech given by ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in which he questioned whether Muslims in America were doing enough in response to the deaths of Muslims in Iraq.
The Uzbek rented a truck on October 22 so he could practice driving the vehicle but selected the night of Halloween for his attack knowing there would be bigger crowds on the street.
His initial plan was to follow the West Side Highway as far south as possible before proceeding to the Brooklyn Bridge.
"Saipov wanted to kill as many people as he could," reads the complaint. "Saipov wanted to display ISIL flags in the front and the back of the attack, but decided against it because he did not want to draw attention to himself."
In the event he was stopped when he crashed into a school bus. He leapt from the vehicle shouting "Alahu Akbar" but was unable to reach a bag of knives he brought with him.
Five Argentine tourists, a Belgian, a New Yorker and a New Jersey man were killed in the attack, New York’s deadliest since 9/11.
Saipov entered no plea during his court appearance and faces the death penalty if found guilty.
Lawyers warned that Mr Trump’s intervention in the case risked impeding the prosecution, allowing the defence to argue his words tainted the jury pool.
“Mr President, we all know he should get the death penalty,” Andrew McCarthy, a former federal prosecutor in New York, wrote on Twitter. “But when *you* say it, it makes it harder for [Department of Justice] to make that happen.”
Mr Trump has already set off one political storm by announcing he wanted to end the green card lottery, the route Saipov used to gain permanent residence in the US.
People who knew the married father-of-three said they had no inkling that he could be capable of terrorism.
Mirrakhmat Muminov, another Uzbek immigrant, described him as a hothead rather than a radical, who could provoke an argument about a picnic as easily as over the situation in the Middle East.
"He had the habit of disagreeing with everybody," said Mr Muminov, who knew Saipov soon after he arrived in the US and lived in Ohio. "He was not happy with his life."
So far authorities say they believe Saipov acted alone. However, the FBI said it was questioning a second Uzbek man, Mukammadzoir Kadirov, 32.The FBI gave no details about why.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said that there was no evidence of associated plots, comparing Saipov to other "lone wolf" attackers.
Saipov faces the possibility of execution because he was charged under federal law; had he been charged in a state court he would not have faced this risk as New York state laws do not allow for execution.
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Read more:
New York attack was planned 'for weeks', say police
Trump says will end green card lottery after New York attack
From celebrating to mourning: Victims of deadly attack in New York
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RESULT
Arsenal 2
Sokratis Papastathopoulos 45 4'
Eddie Ntkeiah 51'
Portsmouth 0
T20 World Cup Qualifier
Final: Netherlands beat PNG by seven wickets
Qualified teams
1. Netherlands
2. PNG
3. Ireland
4. Namibia
5. Scotland
6. Oman
T20 World Cup 2020, Australia
Group A: Sri Lanka, PNG, Ireland, Oman
Group B: Bangladesh, Netherlands, Namibia, Scotland
The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
Six things you need to know about UAE Women’s Special Olympics football team
Several girls started playing football at age four
They describe sport as their passion
The girls don’t dwell on their condition
They just say they may need to work a little harder than others
When not in training, they play football with their brothers and sisters
The girls want to inspire others to join the UAE Special Olympics teams
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The years Ramadan fell in May
The five pillars of Islam
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
FIGHT CARD
Bantamweight Hamza Bougamza (MAR) v Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)
Catchweight 67kg Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) v Fouad Mesdari (ALG)
Lighweight Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) v Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)
Catchweight 73kg Mostafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) v Yazid Chouchane (ALG)
Middleweight Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) v Badreddine Diani (MAR)
Catchweight 78kg Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Adnan Bushashy (ALG)
Middleweight Sallaheddine Dekhissi (MAR) v Abdel Emam (EGY)
Catchweight 65kg Rachid Hazoume (MAR) v Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG)
Lighweight Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Azouz Anwar (EGY)
Catchweight 79kg Omar Hussein (PAL) v Souhil Tahiri (ALG)
Middleweight Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Laid Zerhouni (ALG)
Brief scores
Barcelona 2
Pique 36', Alena 87'
Villarreal 0
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5