Uber confirms the NYC terror suspect was an Uber driver

2025-04-28 03:28:01admin

Uber has confirmed with Mashable that the New York City terror suspect, who killed eight people and injured at least 11 by driving a truck through a bike lane on Tuesday, was an active Uber driver who passed the company's background check.

Uber says it has banned the driver, Sayfullo Saipov, from using the Uber app and is now "aggressively and quickly" looking into Saipov's history with the company. Uber says it has not yet found any concerning safety reports associated with Saipov's work as an Uber driver.

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In reaction to the violent event, an Uber spokesman gave the following statement:

"We are horrified by this senseless act of violence. Our hearts are with the victims and their families. We have reached out to law enforcement to provide our full assistance."

Uber's existing background check involves both a criminal background check and a Motor Vehicle Review, according to Uber's website. The check is performed by Checkr, which Uber describes as "a third party background check provider that is accredited by the National Association of Professional Background Screeners."

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To become an Uber driver, the background check must show no conviction for a "felony, violent crime or sexual offense within the last seven years" according to the company website.

Saipov arrived in the U.S. from Uzbekistan seven years ago, in 2010, according to The New York Times.

A press officer at the FBI's New York field office told Mashablethat it has no further information about the suspect at this time, but more details may emerge at 11 a.m. EST. This story will be updated.

Update November 1, 2017 (2:15 p.m. ET):

Followingan NYPD news conference, The New York Times reports that neither the FBI nor the NYPD had been investigating Saipov, according to John J. Miller, the New York Police Department’s deputy commissioner for intelligence and counterterrorism.

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