The suspect in yesterday's terrorist attack in New York City that left eight dead and at least 10 injured came to the United States from Uzbekistan, but the country should not be seen as a hotbed for terrorism, experts say.

Uzbeks have been involved in other terrorist acts, but most of the perpetrators appear to have been radicalized after they leave the region, according to professors who study Central Asia.

The country, north of Afghanistan, is 88 percent Muslim, though relatively secular because its previous leader, Islam Karimov, cracked down on what he considered "extremist" Islam. Karimov served as president from 1991 until his death last year.

"You would not be able to find someone who did not know someone who was put in jail by him under some charges of Islamic terrorism or radicalism," said David Montgomery, a professor of anthropology at the University of Pittsburgh. "Many people, if they went to the mosque too often, they were seen as Islamic radicals."

Karimov often called his opposition Muslim extremists, even when there was little evidence to back up the charge, experts say. The international community criticized Karimov for human rights abuses.

Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, a 29-year-old who came to the U.S. from Uzbekistan in 2010, drove a rented pickup truck down a bicycle lane in Lower Manhattan Tuesday afternoon, mowing people down and crashing into a school bus. He shouted "Allahu akbar," Arabic for God is great.

Saipov, who on Wednesday was charged by the U.S. Attorney's office with one count of material support to a terrorist organization and violence with a motor vehicle, was inspired by the Islamic State, police say. He had just "recently" started consuming ISIS propaganda and he appears to have "self-radicalized," a federal law enforcement official told NBC News.

After Sept. 11, Uzbekistan volunteered to assist the U.S. in the "war on terror," said Scott Radnitz, an associate professor of Central Asian Studies at the University of Washington.

"The government saw Islam as a threat to the regime and was happy to help repress its opponents," Radnitz said. "There was no serious threat internally from Islamic organizations, despite what some reports may say. The government exaggerated these groups but actual evidence of their activities is scant or nonexistent."

Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan's new president, condemned yesterday’s terror attack in a letter to President Donald Trump. Since Mirziyoyev took office last year, the country has begun to open up and become more optimistic, experts say.

"Uzbekistan, for its part, is ready to use all the forces and means to assist in the investigation of this terrorist act," Mirziyoyev wrote in the letter to Trump. 

Several Uzbeks have been linked to terror plots in the U.S. and other countries in recent years, including a truck attack in Sweden in April and a nightclub shooting in Istanbul in January.

"I think we’re seeing a trend here, and it's an unwelcome one," said Paul Stronski, a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "We are seeing not just in Uzbekistan, but in former Soviet states in Central Asia, there seem to be more people involved in global terrorist incidents. They tend to be more lone wolf than anything else."

It is after people move out of the region that they seem to become radicalized, Stronski said.

"To associate Uzbekistan with terrorism is not the way to see the country, because it really represents a tiny fraction of what's going on there," Russell Zanca, a professor of anthropology at Northeastern Illinois University, told NBC. "I'd say there’s probably just as many, if not more, Islamic militants in the U.S. as in Uzbekistan. No majority of Uzbeks would support this."

Although its relationship with the U.S. has been shaky in part because of the human right records of its government, Uzbekistan has, in some ways, been a partner of the U.S. in fighting terrorism, even when the authoritarian Karimov was still in power. The U.S. had an air base in the country to support the war in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2005.

"Right now, and this is another shame in this situation, Uzbek American relations right now are probably the best in a while, and that's because of the new leader since September 2016," Zanca said. "Uzbekistan is becoming more open and the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent working hard to improve relations."

Zanca said most Uzbeks are pro-American and grateful for the opportunities they have in the U.S.

"They're so livid and upset that this is all what they'll be known for," he said.

Navbahor Imamova, a journalist who reports on the Uzbek community in the U.S. as head of the Voice of America Uzbek service, said Uzbeks are very proud of their culture and often frustrated that Americans don’t know about the country. Now they will, but in a negative context.

"It's a shock to me because this guy grew up after the years of independence in Uzbekistan," she said. "If anyone visits Uzbekistan, they will see how secular the country is."

Uzbeks in the U.S. were left stunned and afraid after Tuesday's attack, especially after President Trump said Tuesday that he wanted to eliminate the "Diversity Visa Lottery Program," which provides up to 50,000 visas annually by lottery. Trump said Saipov entered the U.S. through the lottery program.

"They’re very worried and incredibly scared because when they hear President Trump saying we have to stop this program, they are freaking out, because when you’re on a green card, it takes a while for your family to join you," Imamova said. "So it's a long process and their futures depend on the U.S. immigration system."

Uzbekistan is not one of the countries listed on Trump's immigrant ban.

Backus Hospital in Norwich said it has lost power and is currently not taking any patients during the outage. 

Fire departments and utilities are on the scene working to fix the issue. 

The hospital said if anyone is in need of emergency or non-emergency services to please use another location. 

Police said to expect traffic delays in the area. 

A car dealership on South Main Street in Wallingford is flooded this morning after a driver hit a fire hydrant, according to Wallingford police, and there is now a sinkhole in the area. 

Police said 25 cars are potentially damaged after another vehicle rolled over and hit a hydrant, sending water into the parking lot of the Audi and Porsche dealerships. 

A minor head injury is reported in the crash.

Neighbors said the crash happened around 1:15 a.m. or 1:30 a.m.

It's not clear if any of the cars at the dealership were damaged.

A student at a New York City school near where a police officer shot and wounded the man accused of ramming a truck down a popular bike path before crashing into a school bus wrote a letter Wednesday thanking officers for their effort.

The P.S. 234 student, who signed "Jonah" on the hand-drawn card, wrote, "Thank you for saving everyone. I saw you guys getting the bad guy. How long is the bad guy going to jail for?" and included drawing of a police car and an officer arresting a man. 

It comes a day after students at P.S. 234 -- which sits about half a block down Chambers Street from where police said 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov slammed into a school bus with a rental truck and ran through traffic with a pellet gun and paintball gun before being shot by NYPD officer Ryan Nash Tuesday afternoon -- were sheltered in the school by terrified teachers and parents. Students at P.S. 89 and Stuyvesant High School were also sheltered in place. 

One student who was aboard the bus, parked in front of P.S. 89 down the street, remains in critical condition Wednesday. Another who was on the bus was examined and sent home from a hospital with no significant injuries.

A driver and an attendant also were on the bus but suffered no serious injuries, police said.

Videos from the scene show the mangled bus as police respond to the crash site. In one video, a passerby shouts, "Oh, my God! Oh, my God. Horror," as firefighters rescuing youngsters from the crumpled bus.

Police said Saipov drove his rented pickup truck nearly a mile down the Hudson River Greenway bike path, mowing down pedestrians and cyclists, before ramming the school bus. Eight people were killed in the attack, and 12 were injured. Saipov faces terrorism charges. 

Hartford police have arrested a second suspect in a homicide on the Fourth of July that appeared to have started as a dispute over prescription glasses.  

The victim, 25-year-old Victor Millian, was found on Wadsworth Street and had been shot several times, according to police. He was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The homicide was captured on surveillance footage and police were able to identify several people from it, police said. 

On Oct. 30, a judge signed an arrest warrant charging 36-year-old Luis Picart Jr. with murder, conspiracy murder, criminal possession of a firearm, criminal use of a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm and reckless endangerment. 

Picart was taken into custody Wednesday and is being held on a $1.5 million bond. He will be arraigned today. 

Police previously arrested 26-year-old William Coleman. He pleaded not guilty and is due in court on Dec. 6 for a pre-trial hearing.  

The investigation remains active and anyone with information that will help detectives is asked to contact the Hartford Police Departments Major Crime Division. 

A San Fernando Valley home owned by Dodger Yasiel Puig was burglarized on the same night Los Angeles' dreams of its first World Series title in 29 years were dashed at Dodger Stadium.

The break-in occurred shortly after Game 7 of the World Series, a disappointing 5-1 loss to Houston. 

A window at the address was smashed and items were taken, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Police responded to the address after a burglary alarm was activated.

Puig was likely at Dodger Stadium at the time. He was 0-for-3 at the plate in Wednesday night's loss.

TMZ reported that jewelry was taken from the Mediterranean-style villa in Encino's Amestoy Estates, which Puig recently bought for $2.65 million. Security cameras captured the crime, according to TMZ.

The home is not the same one owned by Puig that was burglarized in March. About $500,00 worth of jewelry was taken in the March burglary, which occurred when Puig was away at spring training.

A string of burglaries have been reported in recent months targeting celebrities in the Hollywood and Beverly Hills area, including Alanis Morissette, Nicki Minaj, Emmy Rossum, Jaime Pressly, David Spade, Puig, and former Lakers Nick Young, Byron Scott and Derek Fisher. In March, a burglary was reported at the family home of Lakers star rookie Lonzo Ball.

Harry Potter fans will be able to enjoy the second film in the incredibly popular series next year with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra performing the score from the film right along with it. 

“Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ in Concert” will be the second concert in the Harry Potter Film Concert Series. 

The performance will be at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford on Friday, April 13, 2018 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 1 p.m. 

The film will play in high-definition on a 40-foot screen. 

Tickets go on sale Monday, Nov. 20 at 10 a.m. at hartfordsymphony.org. You can also get the tickets in person at The Bushnell Box Office, and by calling 860-987-5900. 

The Harry Potter Film Concert Series kicked off in June 2016 with "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone."

It is scheduled to include hundreds of performances across more than 35 countries around the world through 2018, including performances this weekend in Hartford.  

The Bushnell is the only place in New England where you can see the concert.  

For more information on the Harry Potter Film Concert Series, visit www.harrypotterinconcert.com.

Merritt Parkway northbound in Greenwich was closed for hours after a fatal crash, according to state police, but it has reopened.

A car and a tractor-trailer collided near exit 33 around 6:30 a.m. Thursday, according to state police. Tractor-trailers are not allowed to be on the Merritt Parkway.

Interstate 95 South in Norwalk was closed between exits 14 and 13 after multiple tractor-trailers crashed, but the highway has reopened.

Southbury is considering whether to ban firearms at all town properties and on all town-owned land and a large crowd is expected to attend a meeting about it tonight.

Overwhelming response prompted moving the Board of Selectmen meeting to the auditorium of Pomperaug High School on Judd Road.

Town democrats proposed the ordinance. During a meeting in October, several people spoke about the ordinance, expressing support or disapproval. 

The Republican-American reports that advocates argue the ordinance would put everyone on an even playing field and several other nearby towns have ordinances, such as Ansonia, Meriden and East Haven. 

The National Rifle Association is strictly opposing the ordinance and said it’s an attempt to turn the town into a gun-free zone.

“This is an attempt by misguided gun control activists to turn the town into a ‘gun-free zone.’ Time and again we have seen that gun-free zones leave law-abiding citizens as sitting ducks for criminals intent on doing us harm. The NRA is urging our members and supporters to oppose this ordinance” – Catherine Mortensen, NRA spokesperson, said in a statement.

The NRA is urging gun-advocates to attend the meeting.

It starts at 7 p.m. at 234 Judd Road. 

Connecticut State Supreme Court Chief Justice Chase T. Rogers is retiring in February. 

Gov. Dannel Malloy said she will retire effective Feb. 5. 

“Chief Justice Rogers is a consummate jurist who has served the state admirably and with formidable distinction. She brought a clear, forward-looking vision and an astute legal mind to the court. Among her many accomplishments, her tenure on the state’s highest court will be remembered for expanding transparency and access to justice, fostering a culture of inclusion in the judicial branch, and streamlining court processes,” Malloy said in a statement. 

Chief Justice Rogers became a judge of the Superior Court in January 1998 and was sworn in as an Appellate Court judge in March 2006. 

She began her term as Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court on April 25, 2007. 

“Her legacy also includes the Judicial Mentoring Program, which provides formal mentoring of new judges, and her establishment of a committee on judicial ethics. Over the last seven years, I have enjoyed working with Chief Justice Rogers on issues important to the judiciary. We are grateful for her dedication to the judiciary and her service to the people of Connecticut,” Malloy said in a statement. 

The governor will nominate a successor at a future date.

Lisa Mizzone’s business, The Hair Spa, is about making things beautiful. But in the nine years her salon has been in its current spot on Naugatuck Avenue in Milford, she’s been dealing with an eyesore: a vacant property directly across the street that has been the focus of several blight complaints.

Milford’s Devon section has seen many improvements and investments in recent years, yet the property at 257 Naugatuck Ave. – a former business – has seemingly remained frozen in time. Mizzone tells NBC Connecticut her customers have taken notice.

“They're constantly complaining. They pull up, they say ‘the business looks nice, what about that building across the street?’” Mizzone said. “It just brings the value of everything down.” 

A shell of a building still stands on the lot, but a view from NBC Connecticut’s DroneRanger shows it is missing a roof and floor, with vegetation growing inside.

Plywood covers spaces where windows used to be. Some neighbors in the area said after decades of sitting vacant, they’re tired of looking at it.

“It's a blight to the neighborhood, I'm sure it brings down our property values,” said Carol Rutledge. 

Carmen Samirshody lives behind the property.

“I don't know if there is any limitation for how long they're going to keep the property like that,” she said, adding she hopes to see it developed soon.

Documents from the city’s Health Department obtained by NBC Connecticut through a Freedom of Information Act request show at least nine blight complaints and investigations at 257 Naugatuck Ave. since 2007. There are no records of any fines issued to the various owners in that time period. 

City Health Department director Deepa Joseph reviewed the records and confirmed when the property was close to being referred to the law department for fines or liens, there was a change of ownership. Joseph explained the city tries to work with owners to develop an abatement plan and often grants time extensions. 

In 2009, the building was deemed unsafe and ordered to be demolished within 30 days. It never was. 

Joseph Griffith, the current building inspector, explains that then-owner Titanium Properties boarded up the building to secure it and presented plans to develop it. The plans never took shape before it was sold again. 

The bottom line for neighbors? 

“We all just really want to know -- what's going on? If there is going to be anything done about it,” questioned Mizzone. 

NBC Connecticut tracked down the current owner to find out.

Christopher Saley, a local real estate developer behind successful projects like the Bridge House restaurant and nearby apartment buildings, bought the property with a partner in 2013 before being appointed Milford’s Public Works director in 2014. 

“A project like this shouldn't take this long,” Saley admitted. “…(B)ut I would tell you that it's been there for 20 years, look at the other projects that I've done in the area, they're all nice projects, we care about the community.” 

Saley showed NBC Connecticut his plans for the property, a split commercial and residential building. The plans were approved by Milford’s Planning and Zoning committee in 2014. However, Saley explained permitting issues and the death of his original project engineer set the project back. 

“The building is clean though in the sense that the grass is cut, it's maintained, it's secure, and we'll get to it in the next month and a half,” he said.

One neighbor questioned why the shell of a building should remain standing in the meantime, saying an empty, grassy lot would be less of an eyesore. Saley explained there’s “structural steel” still inside that he intends to use in his proposed project. 

Saley added he hopes to have it finished within nine months, and that he appreciates the patience of neighbors in the area. 

Aquarion Water Company is issuing a warning to customers about a phone call scam. 

They said an impostor claiming to be from Aquarion Water Company leaves a phone number for the customer to call back to make a water bill payment or pay a fine for tampering with their water meter.

The only valid Aquarion Customer Service Center numbers are 1-800-732-9678 and 203-445-7310, according to Aquarion. 

Any customers who receive a similar call should immediately call their local police department. 

Anyone who has further questions or would like to confirm their account status may contact Aquarion’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-732-9678. 

Aquarion Water Company supplies water for more than 625,000 people in 51 cities and towns throughout Connecticut, as well as customers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Four Jersey City police officers have been indicted on charges ranging from aggravated assault to attempted murder, prosecutors said Thursday, months after shocking video emerged showing them kicking and dragging a flaming bystander following a car chase and fiery crash.

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said that a grand jury had returned an indictment against Lt. Keith Ludwig, MD Khan and officers Eric Kosinski and Francisco Rodriguez in the case of the June 4 beatdown.

All are charged with aggravated assault and official misconduct. All but Ludwig are accused of possessing a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and Kosinski and Khan face charges of attempted murder.

Officers had been trying to stop a vehicle near Ocean and Cator avenues in Jersey City late that night; the driver, Leo Pinkston, fled and the cops gave chase. Pinkston was involved in a number of crashes during the pursuit, and multiple shots were fired. Eventually, he crashed into a vehicle on Tonnelle Avenue, leading to a collision with a utility pole that sparked a major fire and injured the driver of the other vehicle, bystander Miguel Feliz. 

When Feliz got out of his car, the four Jersey City officers descended on him, kicking and dragging him in apparent belief he was the man they had been chasing. The June 4 video showed Miguel Feliz, on fire, exiting his car before being kicked by the officers. Feliz was hospitalized in critical condition with severe burns and broken ribs after the encounter, his family said. 

The four officers were suspended in late June, then had their jobs reinstated, though they were on administrative duty, not active patrol. Jersey City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill told NorthJersey.com at the time that federal investigators had asked the department not to bring departmental charges against the men pending a federal investigation. 

Attorney information for the officers wasn't immediately available. Previously, a union representative had said they were trying to put the flames out and pull Feliz to safety. At the time, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said the video appeared to contradict that claim and demanded he be fired. 

Pinkston also faces a number of charges in connection with the pursuit. 

A substitute teacher for a Waterbury middle school has been fired after he was arrested in New York, accused of inappropriate conversations with a 15-year-old former student from a Katonah, New York school.

Police in Bedford, New York arrested 32-year-old Kamar Brown, of Waterbury, on Oct. 27.

Waterbury Public Schools director of personnel Robert Brenker said Brown was hired on Oct. 5 as a substitute teacher at West Side Middle School. School officials were alerted about the arrest in New York and Brown’s employment was terminated on Oct. 31.

Bedford police said they received a report on Oct. 9 that a 15-year-old student at Harvey School in Katonah was having inappropriate electronic conversations with a former teacher.

Brown has been a teacher at the Harvey School, but was “separated from employment” in June, according to Bedford police.

They added that none of the crimes Brown is accused of occurred while he worked at the Harvey School or occurred on school property there.

Brown has been charged with attempted dissemination of indecent material to a minor.

A Watertown police officer has been placed on administrative leave over allegations of misconduct. 

Watertown Police Chief John Gavallas said he became aware of an incident on Saturday, Oct. 7, spoke with several people close to the situation and determined “immediate and appropriate action” needed to be taken. 

The chief placed the officer on leave as of Monday, Oct. 9, pending the outcome of criminal and internal investigations. 

The Connecticut State Police Central District Headquarters and the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney are handling the issue to avoid any conflict of interest, according to police.

No additional information was released.

The recall covers 134 models of Kidde's extinguishers that were made from 1973 to 2017.

An Oxford shopping center is shut down after E. coli was found in the water system that serves the businesses in the plaza.

First Selectman George Temple said Pleasant Valley Shopping Plaza located Old State Road, or Route 67, will remain closed until the Pomperaug District Department of Health reopens it, but it's not clear when that will be. 

The shopping center houses several restaurants, a child care center and other tenants, the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) said. 

"All of the businesses in the shopping center were instructed to discontinue use of the water until further notice," DPH said.

Rose Family Restaurant posted on Facebook and said the restaurant will be closed for an undetermined amount of days.

"This is out of our hands and is in the hands of the appropriate agencies," the post reads. 

An Ohio man who pleaded guilty to threatening to assassinate President Barack Obama in 2016 violated his probation and went missing from authorities for days earlier this month, according to an arrest warrant reviewed by the News4 I-Team.

According to court filings from federal agents, police encountered Jonathan Smead “highly intoxicated” near Seattle on Oct. 3, thousands of miles away from his home in Ohio, where a court order requires him to remain during his probation. A woman called the police to report Smead refused to leave her home in Cle Elum, Washington. The woman said she’d met Smead online a month earlier and he traveled by bus to visit and stay with her, according to the arrest warrant.

According to the warrant, the Kittitas County Sheriff's Department did not arrest Smead and instead escorted him to a hotel. The warrant said Smead soon thereafter traveled to Las Vegas, where he evaded detection from authorities for nearly a month, until his arrest earlier this week.

In 2016, the U.S. Secret Service accused Smead of phoning a death threat to the president and referencing past assassins, including Lee Harvey Oswald and John Wilkes Booth. Smead, 36, also threatened to kill Hillary Clinton, according to court filings.

A judge sentenced Smead to five years of probation for this crime, requiring no federal prison sentence.

The probation sentence required Smead to remain in northern Ohio unless he received court permission. The warrant said Smead did not receive permission to travel. The warrant also said Smead failed to attend court-ordered drug treatments and a meeting with his probation officer.

The U.S. Marshals Service arrested Smead Monday and returned him to Ohio, according to a Justice Department official. Where marshals found him has not been revealed.

The I-Team is awaiting information from the Kittitas County Sheriff's Department about why it released Smead without arrest or if deputies ran a background check before setting Smead free.

A News4 I-Team investigation in July revealed challenges faced by federal authorities in securing prison sentences for people who admit breaching security or threatening government officials. At least 25 people have been prosecuted for trespassing or unlawful entry at the White House or U.S. Capitol since 2014. Nearly all were never sentenced to prison or have since been released from prison.

In several cases reviewed by the I-Team, men and women returned to breach security again after their initial arrests.

Smead’s case, in which he pleaded guilty to threatening the president, was prosecuted in federal court in Ohio. Sentencing memos in Smead’s case, which would indicate why Smead was able to avoid prison time, were sealed by the federal court in Cleveland.

A man is accused of threatening an Old Saybrook officer with a flare gun on Wednesday, police said. 

Kenneth G. Grussy, was arrested Thursday after police said he threatened to shoot an officer at close range with a flare gun following a brief police pursuit in Old Saybrook. 

He was charged on Wednesday with criminal possession of a firearm, weapons in a motor vehicle, operating with a suspended license, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, and engaging police in pursuit.

High powered flare guns that use 12 gauge "shotgun style" ammunition cartages are considered firearms in Connecticut.

Grussy had been "practicing" shooting off flares at his home and at Saybrook Point for the past several weeks, according to police. 

The 63-year-old is not allowed to possess firearms because of a current protection order against him.

Several months ago, Old Saybrook officers seized Grussy's firearms after they discovered he was firing a .22 long rifle inside his home while it was occupied by family members.

In addition to the charges already listed, Grussy was served two arrest warrants stemming from additional incidents involving him firing the flare gun.

One warrant charged Grussy with breach of peace and criminal possession of a firearm after he drove to Saybrook Point, spoke to a person at the point and then fired a flare over the Connecticut River. The incident triggered a marine distress dispatch for both the Old Saybrook Volunteer Fire Department and Police Department.

The other warrant charges Grussy with breach of peace after he made threatening comments to others about shooting Old Saybrook Police officers at close range with a flare gun, the same gun he had with him during Wednesday's encounter before he was arrested.

Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) said that the Blue Jay's mens basketball coach and one of the assistant coaches will not be at Thursday night's game because of an investigation conducted by the college.

Head Coach Donyell Marshall and Assistant Coach Anthony Anderson will not be at the exhibition game against Nyack "due to a confidential personnel matter currently under investigation by the university", CCSU said in a statement. 

Assistant Coach Mike Witcoskie and Anthony Ross will be coaching CCSU's basketball game on Thursday night. 

No other details were immediately available.