New York mourns, another terror attack on Tuesday took lives of innocent people, tourists from Argentina, Belgium among dead. A 29-year-old man driving a rental truck plowed down people on a Manhattan bike path and killed eight and injured 11. The police shot and arrested the suspect.
Five of those killed were Argentine high school pals celebrating three decades of friendship, a sunny reunion day turned into tragedy for them and their families. The Argentine government identified the slain victims as Hernán Mendoza, Diego Angelini, Alejandro Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij and Hernan Ferruchi.
Witnesses say the speeding truck struck unsuspecting bicyclists and pedestrians while onlookers screamed and scattered. The truck then veered left toward Chambers Street, where it collided with a small school bus, injuring two adults and two children inside, authorities said.
The Foreign ministry of Belgium confirmed that a Belgian were among the eight victims, about a dozen more injured. Sources said four teens and a German tourist were also among the injured. The suspect ended his rampage after ramming a school bus.
The crash sent the driver and at least one special needs student to a nearby hospital, according to police sources. Both have since been released from Bellevue Hospital.
According to a video from the scene, the man then jumped out of the wrecked vehicle brandishing what appeared to be handguns. Some witnesses said he shouted “Allahu akbar’’ meaning “God is great’’ in Arabic.
