Uber announced late Tuesday night that the suspect behind the attack in Manhattan was one of their drivers. The heinous attack occurred on Manhattan's West Side bike path late Tuesday afternoon, killing eight people and leaving more than a dozen civilians injured.
The suspect behind the assumed terrorist attack, Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, was one of the over 13 critically injured persons. It is believed that the 29-year-old truck driver deliberately plowed into pedestrians in Manhattan, and it has since been confirmed that he was a registered Uber driver.
A spokesperson from Uber made a statement late on Tuesday evening confirming initial reports that Saipov drove for the company. "We are horrified by this senseless act of violence. Our hearts are with the victims and their families. We have reached out to law enforcement to provide our full assistance,” said the Uber spokesperson yesterday.
According to reports, the Uber spokesperson also confirmed that Saipov passed the company's standard background checks that mandatory for all Uber drivers. The spokesperson stated that Uber has been cooperating with the FBI and law enforcement on the matter.
As of now, police haven't uncovered an extensive criminal past and the suspect has been banned from the Uber app. He is currently in police custody and receiving treatment for wounds sustained by gunshots fired by police.
Sources: CBS New York, CBS Evening News
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