Uzbek terrorist who killed eight people in New York in 2017 sentenced to 10 life sentences

Uzbek terrorist Sayfullo Saipov will serve ten life sentences, more than 260 years in prison, after committing a terrorist attack on October 31, 2017 in New York, killing eight people and injuring 18.

"Today’s sentence means that Sayfullo Saipov will spend the rest of his life in federal prison for brutally murdering eight innocent victims during his carefully calculated ISIS terrorist attack," Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement. "The Department of Justice honors the victims, their families, and the survivors of this horrific attack. We will continue to vigorously defend the American people from threats of terrorism and will work tirelessly to bring those who perpetrate terrorist attacks to justice."

Meanwhile, Damian Williams, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York said, "These eight life sentences account for the eight lives Saipov stole when he committed his vicious ISIS attack. The 260 years in prison constitutes the maximum penalty for the 18 attempted murders Saipov cruelly committed, which included the attempted murders of four children. More than just holding Saipov accountable for his depraved crimes, the proceedings today gave further voice to the victims."

In January, Saipov was convicted of 28 counts of terrorism and murder. In mid-March, the Uzbek terrorist was sentenced to life without parole.

The attack

On October 31, 2017, Saipov, who was living in New Jersey, decided to drive a rented pickup truck down the Hudson River Greenway bike path. The Uzbek terrorist ran over several pedestrians and cyclists until he hit a school bus. Among the fatalities were a Belgian woman, five Argentines and two Americans. He also hurt 18 other people, two of whom were seriously injured.

During the trial, prosecutors stressed that Saipov never showed any compassion for the victims and went so far as to confess that he also planned to go to the Brooklyn Bridge to murder more people.