Truck driver detained after reports multiple pedestrians struck in Brooklyn ‘rampage’

A man driving a U-Haul truck hit at least eight pedestrians in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Monday, authorities said, before police stopped the vehicle and took the suspect into custody.

New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Keechant Sewell told reporters that officers ended the driver’s “violent rampage” through the Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn and stopped the truck near the entrance to the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel to Manhattan.

“A man driving a U-Haul went on a rampage in Bay Ridge. … Several people were hit and badly injured. We have no idea of motives at this time but this wasn’t an accident,” said New York City Council Member Justin Brannan.

The eight victims are at area hospitals, according to Sewell, who said two are in “critical condition” and two are in “serious condition.” One of those injured was a police officer.

CBS News reports that NYPD’s Bomb Squad swept the vehicle as a precaution and cleared the rear of the truck.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) was briefed on the incident Monday, according to an update from his press secretary. The spokesperson noted that “there are no additional credible threats at this time.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) also said she was briefed, and that her team is now working with the NYPD as the investigation continues.

The Associated Press noted that the incident comes as a jury begins considering whether Sayfullo Saipov, an Islamic extremist who killed eight people on a New York City bike path in 2017 by hitting them with a truck, should be sentenced to death.

“At this time, we have no indication that there was any terrorism involvement in this incident,” Sewell said, though she noted the investigation is ongoing as NYPD processes multiple scenes. Sewell added that authorities would be investigating any possible ties to Monday’s incident and the 2017 attack.

While Brannan said that while the truck driver “was clearly running people down intentionally,” the council member added that there is no intelligence to suggest that the incident was “any kind of coordinated terrorist attack.”

The NYPD said that the suspect is a single male, but did not release further details and withheld his name.

–Updated at 2:38 p.m.

Updated at 12:31 p.m.