Person of interest in deadly NYC attack had ties to south Fort Myers, Tampa

SOUTH FORT MYERS, Fla. A second person of interest was briefly wanted for questioning Wednesday in connection with a deadly truck attack on a bike path near the World Trade Center.

The FBI believed Mukhammadzoir Kadirov, 32, had pertinent information in Tuesday’s attack, but he is no longer being sought.

“We’ve found him, and we’ll leave it at that,” FBI Assistant Director in Charge Bill Sweeney said at a news conference.

Sweeney did not elaborate on why authorities were seeking the Uzbekistani man.

Kadirov lived at Lakewood Village near Summerlin Road and Gladiolus Drive in south Fort Myers as recently as August, records show.

MORE: Ex-neighbors of NYC terror suspect in Fort Myers, Tampa reckon with reality

Neighbors were taken by surprise and mentioned seeing Kadirov often in a hoodie.

“He was looking kinda to me … like suspicious … especially wearing a hoodie in the middle of the summer … he was looking out the corner of his eyes,” nearby resident Lou Tolleson said.

The wave of Uzbekistan Muslims to South Florida began in the early 2000s, according to  Imam Mohamed Al-Darsani, the director of the Islamic Center for Peace in Fort Myers.

“The new ones, the young ones, I don’t know what is going on in their lives,” Al-Darsani said. “We don’t know who is influencing these people. And they’re doing stupid things. This is not the first time — we’re paying more attention because it involves our town.”

Uzbek immigrant Sayfullo Saipov, 29, was also a former Fort Myers resident, authorities said. Saipov is accused in the truck rampage that left eight people dead, saying he was spurred to attack by the Islamic State group’s online calls to action.

Saipov faces charges of providing material support to a terrorist group and committing violence and destruction of motor vehicles, resulting in death.

Kadirov was also connected to a residence at Wexford Park Avenue in Tampa, records show.

Nearby resident Kena Mack says she saw Kadirov in the neighborhood just two weeks ago.

“I remember he had on black pants, a white shirt, long-sleeved. He was walking like a robot walk,” Mack said.

Neighbor Margaret Perry and Mack both survived the Sept. 11 attacks and say they are concerned about what’s next.

“That bothers me that they still don’t have enough. They just want to do things to Americans or New York,” Perry said.

FBI agents are asking the public to call 1-800-CALL-FBI for any information on Kadirov.