In New York, the trial of an Uzbek who staged a bloody terrorist attack in Manhattan began: he is proud of what he did and does not consider himself guilty

An immigrant from Uzbekistan, Saifullo Saipov, who drove a truck into a crowd of people, killing eight people on a bike path in New York in 2017, appeared in court on January 9. According to his lawyer, the man was inspired to commit the crime by videos of the terrorist organization ISIS, which he watched on the Internet. Saipov still believes that the attack was his religious duty and does not regret what he did, reports CNN.

“And now, as we sit here, he still believes in it. He still believes in the ideas of ISIS. And he still believes that it was God's will that he did so,” Saipov's lawyer David Patton said.

Saipov pleaded not guilty to 28 counts, including eight counts of murder, 18 counts of attempted murder, and other charges of terrorism. His run over a crowd of people was the deadliest terrorist attack in New York since the September 11, 2001 attacks.

On the subject: Brooklyn-based Uzbek sentenced to 15 years in prison for aiding ISIS

Saipov could be sentenced to death. The trial is the first possible death penalty case to be heard at the federal level under President Joe Biden. By the way, earlier he promised to abolish the death penalty at the federal level.

The attacks took place on Halloween 2017. Saipov drove a U-Haul truck into cyclists and pedestrians on a bike path on the West Side of Manhattan. He then crashed into a school bus and left the truck brandishing a pistol and a paintball gun. He was shot by an NYPD officer and taken into custody.

According to the criminal case, he told investigators that he planned the attack for about a year and was inspired by ISIS videos.

In court on Monday, prosecutor Alexander Lee spoke at length about the attack. And he described how Saipov staged a scene of “destruction” and “horror” using a rented U-Haul truck as a weapon.

Saipov is proud of what he has done

After the attack, Saipov "willingly" told federal agents about his terrorist plan, Lee said.

“He told the FBI agents how he planned and practiced the attack. He told them that his goal was to kill as many people as possible. And he admitted that when the leader of ISIS called for attacks, he gladly responded,” Li said.

Saipov smiled at the memory of his attack while talking to federal agents at the hospital, Lee said. He also requested that an ISIS flag be hung in his hospital room.

According to the prosecutor, Saipov still remains loyal to ISIS. Already in custody, during telephone conversations with family members, the perpetrator told them that he was an ISIS soldier.

The defense admits the fact of the attack and does not intend to dispute it

Patton, Saipov's lawyer, did not dispute the attack and focused his opening remarks on Saipov's motives and ties to ISIS.

The lawyer called Saipov's actions "meaningless". He added: “There is no excuse for what he did. And we won't offer it to you."

According to Patton, the defendant was inspired by ISIS. But the terrorist organization did not help him carry out the attack. ISIS leaders claimed responsibility for Saipov's attack two days after the incident. But the lawyer argues that the terrorist group has historically claimed responsibility for violent events that were not committed by ISIS.

“He did not expect that after this attack he would be able to escape and become a member of ISIS or any other organization,” Patton said. “He expected to die.”

Saipov was not associated with ISIS in any meaningful way at the time of the attack, the public defender said.

“He did this because he immersed himself in the world of ISIS messaging on the internet and social media. And he was convinced that it was his religious duty to carry out the attack,” Patton said.

According to the lawyer, Saipov became radicalized while working as a trucker and driver in the United States. He was lonely and started watching ISIS videos. He grew up in Uzbekistan, was a Muslim, but was not particularly interested in religion. His family members are not ISIS supporters.

Saipov moved to the US after winning a green card

Saipov came to the US from Uzbekistan in 2010 and lived in New Jersey before the attack. He lived with his wife and three children and worked as a driver for Uber.

The man moved to the US after winning a green card.

Of the eight people killed in the attack, five were from Argentina, two were Americans and one was Belgian.

The Argentines were part of a group celebrating the 30th anniversary of high school graduation in New York. The Argentine Foreign Ministry said they were Hernán Diego Mendoza, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damian Pagnucco, Ariel Erlidj and Hernan Ferrucci.

Nicholas Cleves, 23, from New York, and Darren Drake, 32, from New Milford, were the two Americans killed.

Anne-Laure Decadt, a 31-year-old Belgian, was also among the dead. The mother of two young sons was on an excursion in New York with her sisters and mother.