A man driving a U-Haul truck in New York City was taken into custody on Monday after allegedly mowing down multiple people with the vehicle.
WABC reported that the incident happened around 11 a.m. local time at three locations in the Bay Ridge neighborhood in Brooklyn before the driver fled the scene.
Radio host Rob O’Donnell said on Twitter the suspect “struck Officer and Police Car in Bay Ridge before plowing thru a bunch of people on sidewalk.”
NBC News reporter Tom Winter said that FDNY officials have confirmed that eight people were injured in the incident and that two of them are in critical condition while two others are in serious condition and the rest suffered minor injuries.
“A man driving a U-Haul went on a rampage in Bay Ridge,” New York City Councilman Justin Brannan wrote on Twitter. “He was just apprehended in Sunset Park. Several people were hit and badly injured. We have no idea of motives at this time but this wasn’t an accident. Thank you to @NYPD72Pct @NYPD68Pct. I will share more info when I can.”
BROOKLYN: DEVELOPING: Multiple pedestrians were struck and a cyclist was dragged by a U-Haul truck near 5th Ave and Bay Ridge Parkway. The truck was stopped after a brief chase, NYPD Bomb squad is responding to check a device inside. pic.twitter.com/dJUlBWibm7
— KolHaolam (@KolHaolam) February 13, 2023
New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) said that she was briefed on the situation and was involved in coordinating with law enforcement agencies throughout the course of their investigation.
Local media further reported that the incident happened just as a Manhattan jury is started considering on Monday whether an Islamic terrorist who murdered several people in 2017 in a truck attack should be put to death for the attack.
The attack on October 31, 2017, killed eight people and left several others with permanent and serious injuries.
His Oct. 31, 2017, rampage killed a Belgian tourist, five Argentinean friends and two Americans. It also left others with permanent injuries, including a woman who lost her legs.
After the attack, the suspect got out of the vehicle with a pellet gun while yelling “Allahu akbar.”
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