Yahoo News 'Send him to Gitmo': Trump hints at fate of New York terrorist
Donald Trump has said he will consider sending the suspected New York City vehicle attacker to Guantanamo Bay.
Responding to a shouted question from a reporter at a Cabinet meeting, Mr Trump said: “I would certainly consider that. Send him to Gitmo.”
The President earlier vowed to step up controversial vetting measures in the wake of the terror truck attack.
Mr Trump also attacked political correctness following the attack on Halloween, which killed eight people and injured 11.
I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017
A rental truck was driven into pedestrians and cyclists on a bike path in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday.
At least 11 others were injured after a man, identified by police as Sayfullo Saipov, 29, from Uzbekistan, drove the rented Home Depot truck on to the path on West Street at around 3pm.
The suspect acted in the name of the Islamic State group, police said.
“He did this in the name of Isis,” John Miller, deputy police commissioner for intelligence, said at a news conference, citing handwritten notes left by Saipov in his vehicle.
“He appears to have followed, almost exactly to a T, the instructions that Isis has put out in its social media channels before with instructions to its followers on how to carry out such an attack.”
He was shot by police after jumping out of the vehicle with what turned out to be two fake guns. He was taken to hospital and is in police custody. Officers said his injuries are not life-threatening.
In response to the atrocity – the deadliest terror attack to strike New York since September 11, 2001 – Mr Trump ordered the security services to ‘step up’ vetting procedures.
NEW YORK TERROR ATTACK – MORE FROM YAHOO UK
Why the truck used by the Manhattan attacker is now the urban terrorist’s weapon of choice
America since 9/11: Timeline of terror on US soil since World Trade Center attack
Group of five friends on graduation anniversary trip among eight killed in New York attack
Everything we know about New York truck attacker Sayfullo Saipov
Posting on Twitter, he praised the actions of the emergency services first responders.
He said he had ordered the Department of Homeland Security to step up its already ‘extreme vetting’ programme, but did not elaborate further.
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.!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017
We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017
He also added: ‘Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!’
Mr Trump also tweeted: ‘We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!’
The terrorist group has not claimed responsibility for the attack.
My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017
Mr Trump said it looked like ‘another attack by a very sick and deranged person’.
The idea of ‘extreme vetting’ of immigrants was introduced by Mr Trump during his presidential election campaign.
As president, he introduced a controversial ban on arrivals to the US from a number of mainly-Muslim nations – which is the subject of a Supreme Court ruling soon.
The American Civil Liberties Union said ‘extreme vetting’ is a ‘euphemism for discriminating against Muslims’.
New York mayor Bill de Blasio described the attack as ‘a particularly cowardly act of terror’ that was ‘aimed at innocent civilians going about their daily lives’.
(Main picture: PA)
