Uzbek terrorist who killed five Argentines in NYC sentenced to life imprisonment

The Uzbek terrorist who ran over and killed eight people (five of them Argentines) in New York in 2017 was sentenced this Wednesday to ten life sentences plus 260 years in prison, according to the Justice Department.

Sayfullo Saipova 35-year-old self-confessed jihadist, rammed a truck into numerous people who were on a bike path in Manhattan on Halloween night in 2017, killing eight and injuring 12 others.

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The five Argentines were from the city of Rosario.

After the trial, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision on the death penalty, which meant that the defendant automatically received life in prison without the possibility of parole.

“The conduct in this case is among the worst, if not the worst, I have ever seen,” the federal district judge said. Vernon S. Broderickquoted by Telemundo.

How was the trial against the terrorist accused of killing five Argentines in New York

Saipov was found guilty at the end of January for the deaths of 8 people whom he rammed with a truck. After that, the jury had to decide whether to impose the death penalty, as requested by the Justice Department at the time of his indictment, under the government of former President Donald Trump.

But capital punishment must be pronounced unanimously. Failing that, the defendant is serving a life sentence.

The terrorist rammed a truck into numerous people in a bicycle lane in Manhattan on October 31, 2017. The attack left eight dead, including five friends from Rosario. In addition, it caused several serious injuries (including a 14-year-old boy) who suffered limb amputations or brain damage.

In today’s session, Saipov spoke for more than an hour, according to various local media reports, and delivered a speech riddled with religious references. He even pointed a finger at the sky on numerous occasions, while quoting different prophets from the Qur’an and even Adam and Eve and the temptation of the serpent.

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The judge gave the floor to relatives of the victims, such as Argentina Gabriela Pereyawidow of Ariel Erlij, who faced Saipov: “Your god thinks you are a coward because you didn’t kill yourself when you killed them. And if you want him to accept you and love you, he goes and kills himself, ”he snapped, according to the chain. Fox News.

How was the attack in which five Argentines died

Saipov was driving a rented van in a Manhattan bike lane on Halloween eve, October 31, 2017. In addition to the eight people killed, including five Argentines, twelve others were injured. Police finally managed to arrest the terrorist after shooting him in the abdomen.

It was the deadliest attack since September 11, 2001, when members of Al Qaeda hijacked two planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center.

Saipov said he acted on behalf of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group.

The dead Argentines were part of a group of ten friends living in the city of Rosario who were celebrating the 30th anniversary of their university graduation together in New York.

Who were the Argentines murdered in New York?

Hernan Mendoza he had traveled to New York with several of his high school classmates, in Rosario, to celebrate 30 years of graduation.

He died in the attack carried out by Saipov together with Diego Angelini, Alexander Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij and Hernan Ferruchi. Another of his classmates Martín Marro he was hurt.

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Nicholas Cleves, 23, of New York, and Darren Drake, 32, of New Milford, New Jersey, were the two Americans killed. The eighth victim was Ann-Laure Decalt, a 31-year-old Belgian citizen.