New York terror suspect lived in Tampa, report says

A man police say is responsible for an act of terror in New York has ties to a Tampa apartment complex, according to a Spectrum Bay News 9 report.

Sayfullo Saipov, 29, came from Uzbekistan to the United States legally in 2010. A commercial truck driver, he started a pair of businesses in Ohio but officials said Tuesday he had a Florida driver’s license. He may have more recently lived in New Jersey and has been driving for the ride-hailing service Uber.

According to Bay News 9, Saipov’s last address was at the Heritage at Tampa apartment complex on 56th Street in Temple Terrace. However, officials said he only lived here a “short period of time,” and it is still unclear how recently he lived there.

FBI agents went to the apartment complex Tuesday and spoke with residents about Saipov, Bay News 9 reported.

A search of Saipov’s past found minor traffic offenses and a warrant for his arrest, according to Bay News 9. He previously failed to appear in court for a minor offense.

Police said Saipov rented a Home Depot truck around 2 p.m. in New Jersey and about an hour later drove it down a bike path for about eight-tenths of a mile on West Street, just a few blocks from the new World Trade Center. The truck turned at Chambers Street where it also hit a school bus, injuring two adults and two children.

At least eight people were killed and 11 seriously injured in the incident.

Witnesses reported seeing blood and bodies on the ground that were later covered with white sheets, and police gunfire sent the surrounding neighborhood into a panic.

Police shot the driver in the abdomen after he jumped out of the truck wielding what was later determined to be a fake gun in each hand and shouting.

Witnesses said he yelled “Allahu Akbar,” Arabic for “God is great,” authorities said.

The man was in critical condition and underwent surgery but authorities expect him to survive.

“This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

This story was originally published November 1, 2017 at 7:25 AM with the headline "New York terror suspect lived in Tampa, report says."