Belgian Mother of 2 Died in NYC Terror Attack: 'She Was a Wonderful Wife'
A 31-year-old Belgian mother was among eight people killed in a New York City terrorist attack when a rented truck plowed through a popular bike lane along the Hudson River.
Ann-Laure Decadt was hit from behind Tuesday, allegedly by Sayfullo Saipov, as she rode a bike in the area along the West Side Highway. She was vacationing with her mother and two sisters and planned to return Friday to her home in Staden.
Her husband issued a statement in Belgium.
"I was contacted last night," Alexander Naessens said Wednesday. "She was a wonderful wife and the most beautiful mom to our 2-month-old and 3-year-old sons.
"The loss is unbearable and cannot be overcome," he said.
She was bicycling with her mom and sisters, but they were not hurt, he said.
Read: At Least 8 Dead in New York City 'Terror Attack' After Truck Careens Down Bike Path
Three other Belgians traveling in the U.S. were injured the attack, according to officials in Belgium.
Eleven people were seriously injured when Saipov, 29, drove a rented Home Depot truck down the bicycle path, ramming cyclists and pedestrians on a sunny, fall afternoon, police said.
The truck also slammed into a school bus, injuring two adults and two children.
Saipov, who is from Uzbekistan but had been living in the U.S. since 2010, sped for 17 blocks before ramming into a school bus. He then jumped from the truck and ran through traffic until a NYPD officer shot him in the stomach.
Five friends from Argentina, who were celebrating the 30th anniversary of their high school graduation, were also killed.
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Local, state and federal authorities are investigating Tuesday's carnage — the deadliest terror attack in New York since 9/11.
Saipov "did this in the name of ISIS, and along with other items recovered at the scene were some notes that indicate that," New York Police Deputy Commissioner John Miller said Saturday. "He appears to have followed almost exactly the instructions that ISIS has put out on its social media channels to its followers."
Those instructions included using trucks and heavy vehicles to carry out terror attacks in Western countries.
Decadt's family was trying to make arrangements to have her body returned to Belgium, her family said.
