Public security

New York City terror attack highlights threat of vehicle attacks

The truck attack in New York City that left eight people dead and at least 13 injured, including the suspect, is the first successful truck attack in the United States, says CBS News senior national security analyst Fran Townsend.

Townsend, a former homeland security adviser to President George W. Bush, says the only successful vehicle attack was in Times Square earlier this year when a man mowed down multiple people.

"I think authorities have been expecting this. After the Nice attack on the promenade, New York Police Department authorities went out to 148 truck rental locations that they kept in touch with, talked to, trying to identify these types of individuals that might do a terror attack. But we don't know where he got this truck from," Townsend said.

The 29-year-old suspect in the New York City attack has residences in Tampa, Florida, and New Jersey. Authorities will be trying to put together the legal basis to go search those places, Townsend said.