New York Terrorist Attack Claims the Lives of 5 Argentinian Friends

Five Argentinian friends who came to to New York City to celebrate their 30th anniversary of graduation died in a horrific terrorist attack yesterday. Police have identified the killer as Sayfullo Saipov, 29, who drove a Home Depot truck rental into innocent bystanders on a bike path and a school bus. Eight people died on the scene, and 11 others were injured, the New York Times reports.

The friends have also been identified as “Hernán Diego Mendoza, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damián Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij and Hernán Ferruchi.” The men had graduated from a polytechnic school in New York City in 1987, according to the Guardian. Another victim was a woman from Belgian, who was visiting the city with her mom and sister.

This picture is said to be of at least one of the men killed and others that were injured.

Éste es el grupo de rosarinos afectados en el atentando en NY. Promoción 87 del Politécnico. Al menos 1 muerto (Ariel Erlij) y 4 heridos. pic.twitter.com/LIhaVqFKJy

— Hernán Funes (@HernanFunes) November 1, 2017

According to the New York Post, the friends, including another who was injured in the attack and is in the hospital, had rented bikes and were sightseeing.

“They were tourists,” Mateo Estrémé, Consul General of Argentina to the United Nations, told The New York Post on Tuesday night. “They were out cycling in downtown Manhattan. We are trying to figure out how to go on — especially the families…[They] are completely lost about, well, being very far from their relatives. They don’t know what to do.”

Estrémé added that the survivors of this reunion trip “are devastated…They are still in shock because they cannot believe that this happened.”

Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri tweeted: “Profoundly moved by the tragic deaths this afternoon in NY. We place ourselves at the disposition of the families of the Argentinian victims.”

Profundamente conmovido por las trágicas muertes de esta tarde en NY. Nos ponemos a disposición de los familiares de las víctimas argentinas

— Mauricio Macri (@mauriciomacri) November 1, 2017

Others injured include a student from a nearby school and two staff members. Some students were celebrating Halloween.

Former President Barack Obama sent his condolences via Twitter:

Michelle and I are thinking of the victims of today's attack in NYC and everyone who keeps us safe. New Yorkers are as tough as they come.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 1, 2017

While the killer was shot by police, he was taken into custody and is currently in the hospital.