Expert: New York truck attack is criminal, not political

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Experts have cautioned against jumping to conclusions about the motive for the deadly pickup truck attack in New York on Tuesday.

At least eight people were killed and 12 others injured when the driver of the pickup mowed people down on a bike path near the World Trade Center memorial.

A 29-year-old man was shot by police as he left the car, and detained. He has been named by media as Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant who came to the US in 2010 and settled in Florida. CNN cited a senior law enforcement official as saying that the suspect left a note in the truck claiming he carried out the attack in the name of ISIL.

US authorities have said it was a terrorist attack.

Police officers stand guard near the site of an attack in lower Manhattan in New York, the United States, on Oct. 31, 2017. Eight people were killed and a dozen more were injured after a truck plowed into pedestrians near the World Trade Center. /Xinhua Photo

However, Alexander Nekrassov, former advisor to the Russian government, thinks it should be labelled a criminal act, rather than terrorist.

“We are calling these people terrorists, political terrorists originated in Russia. Terrorists in Russia never target innocent civilians, because they understand their cause will suffer. They target military, police, generals, so we are talking here about criminals,” he told CGTN.

With many believing that the label “terrorism” glorifies violence and potentially inspires more killing, Nekrassov suggested it is dangerous to use the term.

“Unfortunately, look at the way politicians in America – not just in America, but every time such tragedy happens – they start to call them terrorists,” he said. “You know what many people think? ‘It is good for you to say that when you're under guard, what about people who are vulnerable?’”

The driver was shot by police after jumping out of the pickup truck with what turned out to be a fake gun in each hand, officials said.

Since the suspect is still alive, former CIA operative Mike Baker said it is critical to obtain information from him, such as on other planned attacks and his intentions. “The bigger issue is the ideology, perhaps having the opportunity to gain some insight into what this person was thinking and how he was thinking could be helpful in the future,” according to Baker.