Pedestrians and Cyclists: The New Norm For Terrorist Targets?

Eight people enjoying the Hudson River Greenway in lower Manhattan on Tuesday in the shadow of the World Trade Centered were intentionally mowed down and killed by a driver in a rented pickup truck, following an ISIS playbook that targets pedestrians

2 minute read

November 1, 2017, 2:00 PM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


Manhattan

cultivar413 / Flickr

“This was an act of terror,” declared Mayor de Blasio at a somber news conference at police headquarters, reports Rich Schapiro for the (New York) Daily News on Nov. 1.

NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Counterterrorism John Miller was even more specific.

“It appears that [suspect Sayfullo Saipov] had been planning this for a number of weeks. He did this in the name of ISIS,” Miller said Wednesday.

"He appears to have followed, almost to a 'T' instructions ISIS has put out.”

The instructions that Miller referenced were included in an ISIS magazine article, Rumiyah, published last year.

The story, which features a photo of a Hertz rental truck, advises would-be terrorists to use a load-bearing truck, to target areas that draw large crowds, to bring with them a secondary weapon, to announce allegiance to Allah and to leave behind a note pledging support for the Islamic State.

Saipov, an Uzbek immigrant, did all of the above, but failed to "remain in the vehicle for as long as possible 'to ensure utmost carnage upon the enemies,'" as the magazine advises, because he unintentionally slammed into a school bus. He reportedly told interrogators that he "accidentally" hit the bus.

 Saipov "jumped out of his truck and ran up and down the highway waving a pellet gun and paintball gun and shouting 'Allahu akbar,' Arabic for 'God is great,' before he was shot in the abdomen by [NYPD Officer Ryan Nash]," reports The New York Times.

Barney Henderson chronicles the use of trucks as weapons for The Telegraph, a "tactic [that] was used widely by Islamist militant groups in several attacks in Israel from 2008 onwards. The Rumiyah article described the Bastille Day massacre in Nice, France, in which a rented, heavy duty truck killed 84 pedestrians, as the prototype for would-be terrorists to follow.

Terrorism and safety experts have stated that there needs to be more widespread use of bollards to prevent vehicle attacks on pedestrians. A bollard in Times Square prevented additionally fatalities in a Times Square incident last May in which a motorist, high on PCP, drove on sidewalks for three blocks, hitting 43 pedestrians, killing one.

Wednesday, November 1, 2017 in New York Daily News

courses user

As someone new to the planning field, Planetizen has been the perfect host guiding me into planning and our complex modern challenges. Corey D, Transportation Planner

As someone new to the planning field, Planetizen has been the perfect host guiding me into planning and our complex modern challenges.

Corey D, Transportation Planner

Ready to give your planning career a boost?

Broken, uneven sidewalk being damaged by large tree roots in Los Angeles, California.

The City of Broken Sidewalks

Can Los Angeles fix 4,000 miles of broken sidewalks before the city hosts the 2028 Olympic Games?

December 5, 2024 - Donald Shoup

Large store in mall with yellow and black STORE CLOSING sign on front.

Shifts in Shopping: Transforming Malls Into Parks

Maybe zombie malls still have a second life — one with a little greenery.

December 8, 2024 - Ruscena Wiederholt

Empty street and high-rise buildings in downtown Chicago, Illinois during COvid-19 pandemic.

Major US Cities Still Suffering Downtown Decline

Research shows that the “donut effect” hollowing out central business districts since the pandemic continues to cause economic decline in the 12 largest American cities.

December 3, 2024 - Stanford University News

Heavy traffic on freeway in San Diego, California.

Why Traffic Never Gets Better

Despite abundant research showing that roadway expansions provide limited congestion relief and increase long-term traffic problems, they still occur due to wishful thinking: advocates claim that “this” project is different.

2 hours ago - Greater Greater Washington

Trolley bus in San Francisco, California.

San Francisco Tops ‘Urban Mobility Readiness’ List

An annual analysis of global cities assesses public transit, technology, and sustainability.

3 hours ago - Bloomberg CityLab

Cyclist on folding bike riding next to silver car on city street.

Bike-Mounted Sensor Could Improve Safety for Cyclists

A new camera technology can detect when vehicles pass too close to people on bikes.

3 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.