In the autumn of 2017, a trip to New York City for a group of friends celebrating a milestone turned into a scene of unimaginable horror. Diego Enrique Angelini, a 47-year-old architect from Argentina, was among those who tragically lost their lives. He and his friends were in the city to commemorate the 30th anniversary of their graduation from the Polytechnic School of Rosario, Argentina.
On October 31, 2017, the group was enjoying a bike ride along the Hudson River Park's bike path in
Lower Manhattan. Their cheerful reunion was abruptly shattered when a rented pickup truck deliberately veered onto the path, mowing down cyclists and pedestrians. The vehicle continued its destructive path for about a mile before crashing into a school bus. Angelini and four of his friends were killed in the attack. In total, the rampage claimed the lives of eight people and injured several others.
The driver of the truck was identified as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, who was 29 years old at the time. After crashing the vehicle, he exited and was heard shouting 'Allahu Akbar'. He was then shot in the abdomen by a police officer and taken into custody. Investigators later found a note in the truck indicating allegiance to the Islamic State group, leading authorities to classify the incident as a terrorist attack.
Saipov, who had legally immigrated to the United States from Uzbekistan in 2010, was arrested at the scene. He faced a host of federal charges, including murder and providing material support to a terrorist organization.
