Terrorism trial begins for New York bike path attacker

The trial has begun of a man charged with using a truck to kill eight people on a Manhattan bike path in 2017.

Through his lawyers Sayfullo Saipov said that he intended to murder and maim his victims and still believes he had a religious duty to do so.

His defence council told the jury that the attacker believes his attack was justified and that he sought to die as a martyr for Islam.

Five Argentinian tourists, one Belgian tourist and two Americans were killed in the attack on Halloween 2017. According to reports, he expected the city to be busy that day and also planned to attack people on Brooklyn Bridge the same day. Saipov hit his victims with a rented truck and then crashed into the side of a school bus. He was also carrying knives and fake guns.

He was shot by police and taken to hospital.

Saipov faces 28 charges in the first federal death penalty trial of President Biden's office. He has pleaded not guilty. Punishment will not be considered in the first phase of the trial. If he is found guilty of any capital crimes, the jury will consider the death penalty. There has been a moratorium on federal executions since July 2021, while the department reviews its use.

The accused is an Uzbek national who moved to the United States in 2010 and previously worked as an Uber driver in Paterson, New Jersey. His lawyers said that Saipov had become isolated from his extended Muslim family in Uzbekistan, and was convinced by Islamic State propaganda online.