Boston Police: No Threat To City After Attack In New York
BOSTON (CBS/AP) — Boston police say there's no threat to the city after an attack near New York City's World Trade Center memorial left at least eight people dead and 11 others injured.
Officials said Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and bicyclists along a busy bike path Tuesday in what the mayor called "a particularly cowardly act of terror." The driver was shot by police and taken into custody.
WBZ-TV's security analyst Ed Davis said, "In Vegas, you had a very sophisticated well thought out plan. This plan was less well thought out, its a disorganized plan where someone just simply rented a truck and drove down a bicycle path. He had a couple of make-believe weapons on him but the truth of the matter is if he had been armed with firearms, the death toll would've been much higher."
The FBI and NYPD are looking into Saipov's background, said Davis. They found a note left behind saying allegedly committed the act for ISIS.
Boston police said there's "no known threat to the Boston area." The department is reminding officers to be "extra vigilant" during their patrols Tuesday evening, paying particular attention to areas that tend to attract a large crowd.
Massachusetts State Police also said there were no known threats to the state.
Governor Charlie Baker responded to the attack on Twitter saying, in part: "I am horrified to learn of today's deadly attacks in New York City that has claimed innocent lives and my heart goes out to the families and loved ones impacted by this senseless act of terrorism."
Other Massachusetts politicians posted similar prayers for those in New York:
Davis added, even with extra security sometimes violence like this can be unavoidable.
"The truth of the matter is that sometimes with soft targets, no matter how much you prepare and prevent it, they can get by you and that's exactly what happened in New York today."
(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
