NEW YORK — West Side bike path terrorist Sayfullo Saipov’s father wept uncontrollably at his son’s death penalty trial in Manhattan Federal Court on Thursday.
Habibulloh Saipov broke down on the stand as he talked about how his son mowed down people on a lower Manhattan bike path along the Hudson River on Halloween 2017.
“He committed a terrible tragedy,” the elder Saipov said. “He caused death for eight people and injuries for many more and he ruined their lives.”
His son’s crimes destroyed his soul, the father said, adding, “I feel very bad about this. And I would like to apologize in front of the other ... victims.”
After the emotionally-charged testimony, Saipov’s uncle, seated in the gallery, had a dramatic outburst. He loudly smacked a wall and screamed out an unintelligible remark. A court interpreter later translated what was said as, “dirty ISIS bastards.”
The display of emotion prompted relatives of slain Belgian woman Ann-Laure Decalt to burst into tears.
Saipov’s lawyer queried his father about whether the family’s religious beliefs aligned with his client’s actions when he barreled down a bike path in a rented flatbed truck, killing eight and injuring more than a dozen.
Jurors have heard how Saipov told authorities he carried out the bloodshed to avenge the deaths of Muslims worldwide by attacking Americans on their home soil.
“Is there anything you know of in your faith that can justify what your son did?” the defense attorney asked Saipov’s father, who traveled from Uzbekistan.
“No, there is nothing that would justify this,” he said.
Sayfullo Saipov, 35, was convicted on Jan. 26 of 28 federal murder and terrorism charges, including death penalty-eligible crimes.
He could become the first federal defendant in Manhattan sentenced to death since 1954.
