A federal grand jury has indicted Sayfullo Saipov on terrorism and murder charges stemming from last month's truck attack in Lower Manhattan in which eight people were killed, the US Justice Department says.
Sayfullo Saipov. Photo: AFP / St. Charles County Dept. of Corrections
Mr Saipov was arrested immediately after the 31 October attack, in which he plowed a truck down a New York City bike lane, and has been in federal custody since then.
The indictment charged Mr Saipov with eight counts of murder, 12 counts of attempted murder, one count of providing and attempting to provide material support to Islamic State and one count of violence and destruction of a motor vehicle resulting in death, the Justice Department said.
Mr Saipov, an Uzbek immigrant, was hospitalised after he was shot by a police officer and arrested.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the truck attack, which was the deadliest assault on New York City since 11 September 2001.
Five of the victims were Argentinians who were part of a group in New York to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their high school graduation. A Belgian woman, a New Yorker and a New Jersey man were also killed.
- Reuters