Life Sentence for Sayfullo Saipov, Attacker of the New York Terrorist Incident

Sayfullo Saipov, the attacker who in 2017 drove a truck into a crowded bike lane and pedestrian path in Manhattan, New York, killing eight people and injuring twelve, has been sentenced to life in prison. Saipov was found guilty in January on charges of 'murder' and 'terrorism', and the judge sentenced him to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole during the final court session held on Wednesday. Monica Masiu, the mother of victim Nicholas Cleves, stated in court that 'this evil killer has destroyed many lives' and 'no punishment for the attacker can compare to the pain and suffering he has caused.' More than 20 victims and grieving family members spoke during this session. Judge Vernon Broderick sentenced 35-year-old Sayfullo Saipov to eight consecutive life sentences and an additional 260 years in prison. After the jury could not reach a consensus on the death penalty for Saipov, the life sentence was finalized. Saipov attacked a path along the Hudson River in West Manhattan using a rented truck. According to prosecutors, he hoped to be accepted into the 'Islamic State' or ISIS by carrying out this act. The U.S. has designated this group as a terrorist organization. Before sentencing, the judge remarked, 'The behavior in this case is among the worst I have ever seen, both in terms of its impact on the victims and the nature of the defendant's lack of remorse.' Rachel Farn, a survivor of the attack, expressed her desire to understand Saipov's motives. Farn added, 'Mr. Saipov, I can forgive you for what you did to me, for breaking my spirit. But when I look around the room and think of all the pain you caused, I cannot forgive. This is between you, them, and God.' Before sentencing, Saipov praised the Islamic State and claimed that his victims suffer less than Muslims around the world. Many of those killed or injured in this attack were foreign nationals visiting New York, the most populous city in the United States. Most of the speakers at this session were Argentine and Belgian. Saipov is expected to be held at the Supermax facility in Colorado, which has the most severe and stringent security measures among federal prisons in the U.S. He is set to spend 22 or 23 hours a day alone in a cell with a concrete bed. This report is based on a Reuters article.