NYC Terror Attack 'Hits Close To Home': Newton Mayor

NEWTON, MA — Eight people were killed and at least a dozen —including a Newton man — were injured when a man driving a truck sped down a bike path near the West Side Highway, crashing into cyclists, pedestrians and a school bus. The mayor of New York has called it an act of terror, and the mayor of Newton told Patch this is personal. Read more on attack here.

"This hits close to home," said Newton Mayor Setti Warren Wednesday. "Obviously our thoughts and prayers go out to the mayor and the people of New York. But when one of our own residents is involved, we become directly affected."

Warren said he spoke with Chestnut Hill resident Martin Marro's wife over the phone this afternoon from the hospital where she was with her husband in New York.

"She was so pleased that so many people have reached out to her in support of her and her family at this time and shared that ... that's really keeping them going," he told Patch.

"I know that Martin has been a part of the fabric of the community through coaching and youth sports and community activities and we are thinking about him," said Warren.

There is no imminent threat to the City of Newton, the mayor added.

Marro was in New York with friends from Argentina, according to the country's foreign ministry. They were celebrating the 30th anniversary of their graduation riding bikes around the city when the truck barreled down on them. Five of his friends were killed in the attack, that has since been blamed on an Uzbek man.

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Marro works at Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research in Cambridge and has two children and is active in youth sports. He coaches a Newton Youth Soccer team. Marro who is family friends with Councilor Jim Cote had co-hosted a fundraiser for Cote just last week.

Marro, originally from Argentina, was in New York to visit with friends from Argentina for a reunion, Cote told multiple news outlets and was supposed to travel with several back to Newton. Cote’s wife, Albi, is Argentinian and she learned of the incident from Marro’s wife, Mariana Dagatti, Cote told reporters, describing the injuries as non life threatening. By Wednesday evening, however friends were reporting he'd been taken back into intensive care.

"All we can do is hope," said Tom Mountain a friend of Marro's and Member of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee who worked with Marro and his wife just last week on a fundraiser at their home in Chestnut Hill.

Mountain describes Marro as a calming influence. "He's just a very gentle man. He really is the type that wouldn't hurt a fly or have anything negative to say about anyone," said Mountain.

Newton candidates for mayor both paused on the final days of the campaign trail to comment to Patch about the resident, though both said they didn't know Marro personally. Thursday the candidates hold their final debate before the election. Before that debate, Mountain who will be moderating, said he will hold a moment of silence in honor of Marro.

"My heart goes out to Martin Marro. To have been both injured and to lose so many close friends in this heinous act of cowardly terrorism is truly awful. I know I speak for all his neighbors in Newton when I say that our thoughts and prayers are with him, his wife Mariana, and their two children," said City Council member Ruthanne Fuller.

City Council President Scott Lennon said the news saddened him.

"It's heartbreaking. I really feel for him and his family," said Lennon. "I'm just sick over it my heart goes out to him and his family and all the families of those who were impacted.... You take a couple minutes to reflect about how important and short life is," he said.

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Photos of Marro and his wife with Gov. Charlie Baker courtesy Tom Mountain.