U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday night offered condolences to the victims of the terrorist attack in Manhattan, in which eight people were murdered and more than a dozen injured.
“My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!” tweeted Trump.
Trump had earlier responded to the attack and tweeted, “In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!”
“We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!” he added.
The attacker has been identified as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, a resident of Tampa, Florida, who was originally from Uzbekistan. Officers shot and arrested him after the ramming attack.
Eyewitnesses said Saipov shouted “Allahu Akbar” as he carried out the attack.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio described the attack as “a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at civilians, aimed at people going about their lives, who had no idea what was about to hit them."