Federal prosecutors to seek death penalty for West Side Highway terror suspect

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Federal prosecutors said Friday that they have decided to seek the death penalty for Sayfullo Saipov in the West Side Highway terror attack that killed eight people last Halloween.

Prosecutors say Saipov was behind the wheel of a rental truck when he plowed into people along the West Side Highway.

Authorities say the Paterson, New Jersey, resident was inspired by the Islamic State group when he mowed people down in a rented truck. He has pleaded not guilty and remains held without bail.

The last time the death penalty was instituted in a federal case out of New York was for Julius and Ethel Rosenberg in 1953.

----------

* More Manhattan news

* Send us a news tip

* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts

* Follow us on YouTube