House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said he firmly believes the deadly truck attack in New York City on Tuesday was an attack orchestrated by the Islamic State, reacting to reports that the suspect yelled, “Allahu Akbar.”
“This was the ninth vehicle assault used by ISIS,” McCaul told Brett Baier on Fox News, referring to recent ISIS-linked attacks around the world in which vehicles were involved.
After being asked to confirm that he thought the attack was ISIS-related, McCaul said: “All the indicators and hallmarks of an act of terror and I think it’s true in this case.”
McCaul cited reports of the driver of the vehicle that plowed down a bike path Tuesday killing at least eight people and injuring 12 more, yelling, “Allahu Akbar,” out of the car window during the attack. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called the incident “an act of terror.”
Rita Katz, director of SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist activity, posted a thread to Twitter Tuesday evening in which she said the “attack-style” fits that of ISIS. Katz backed her claims by pointing out ISIS members that were celebrating the attack online.
5) #ISIS supporters celebrating #Manhattan attack, stating: “You killed men and widowed women and orphaned children…what do you expect!” pic.twitter.com/LPLCc7sRDh
— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) October 31, 2017
ISIS has yet to claim responsibility for the incident, though the group has encouraged this type of attack.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo referred to the violence as a “lone wolf” attack at this early stage in the investigation.
