At least eight people were killed and eleven seriously injured after a man in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Center memorial today.
The 29-year-old suspect was shot in the abdomen by police after jumping out of the truck with what turned out to be a fake gun in each hand and shouting what witnesses said was "Allahu Akbar!," Arabic for "God is great," authorities said.
NEW YORK TERROR ATTACK: AS IT HAPPENED
#Indian-origin CEOs of tech giants Google and Microsoft condemned the New York terror attack. "So sad to see the senseless loss of lives in NYC, thoughts and prayers with everyone affected there. Gratitude to NYPD, FDNY and first responders there #NYCStrong," Google CEO Sundar Pichai tweeted.
#"Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and all those in New York City impacted by this horrific act of violence," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in a tweet.
# Congress president Sonia Gandhi has strongly condemned the dastardly terror attack in New York. Terming it an unacceptable act of brutal terror against innocent citizens, she said our heart goes out to the families of those who have lost the family members.
#Uber has confirmed that the man suspected of driving a vehicle down a bike path near the World Trade Center site, killing eight people, was one of its drivers.
# Argentina's Foreign Ministry says five of the nation's citizens were among the eight people killed in the truck attack on a New York City bike path.
# The deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister of Belgium says in a tweet one of the dead was Belgian.
# "Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased & prayers with those injured," tweets PM Narendra Modi.
# President Donald Trump says he has ordered the Department of Homeland Security "to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program" following the deadly truck rampage on a New York City bike path.
# Two law enforcement officials say a note was recovered inside the truck that barreled down a bike path near the World Trade Center, killing eight people.
#Police investigating a rented Home Depot truck's deadly rampage down a bike path near New York's World Trade Center have surrounded a white Toyota minivan with Florida plates parked in a New Jersey Home Depot lot.
#New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (KWOH'-moh) has increased security at airports, bridges, tunnels and mass transit systems around the state following a vehicle attack on a bike path near the World Trade Center.
#The head of the New York City schools system says two staff members and two students were injured in a school bus that was struck by a motorist who drove a rented truck onto a bike path, killing eight people.
# A US official familiar with the investigation into a man suspected of driving a rented truck down a bike path near the World Trade center and killing eight people says the man is from Uzbekistan and came to the US in 2010.
#Boston police say there's no threat to their city after a vehicle attack on a bike path near New York's World Trade Center site and memorial left at least eight people dead and 11 others injured.
#The driver of the truck, hired from Home Depot, was arrested by the police not before he opened fires with his gun in his attempt to flee.
#"The suspect is in custody," New York Police Department (NYPD) said.
# Shocked to hear of terrorist attack in New York. Our condolences to bereaved families. India stands by United States: President Ram Nath Kovind.
# Halloween parade marches on amid heavy security after Manhattan terror attack.
# Officials who were not authorised to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity identified the attacker as Sayfullo Saipov and said he is from Uzbekistan and came to the US in 2010.
#Condemning the attack, US president Donald Trump said "we must not allow ISIS to return". "In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!" Trump tweeted.
#"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" he said in another tweet.
#The incident that took place in Manhattan, the most densely populated of New York City's 5 boroughs, has sent shocking waves across the country.
#Police said the vehicle entered the bike path at about 3 p.m. on West Street a few blocks from the new World Trade Center, the site of the deadliest terror attack in US history. The truck then turned at Chambers Street, hitting the school bus and injuring two adults and two children.
# A paintball gun and a pellet gun were found at the scene, police said. At least two covered-over bodies could be seen lying on the bike path, and the front end of the pickup was smashed in, as was the side of the school bus.
#"The president has been briefed on the incident in NYC by Chief of Staff (John) Kelly and will be continually updated as more details are known. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders.
#Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke has been briefed on the apparent act of terrorism that occurred in New York City, an official statement said.
#The department is closely monitoring the situation and working with federal, state and local partners in responding to and investigating this tragedy.
#Police closed off streets across the western edge of lower Manhattan along the Hudson River, and officers rushed into the neighborhood just as people were preparing for Halloween festivities, including the big annual parade through Greenwich Village.
ALSO READ | Halloween parade marches on amid heavy security after New York attack
#"This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them," Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
#New York and other cities around the globe have been on high alert against attacks by extremists in vehicles. The Islamic State has been exhorting its followers to mow down people, and England, France and Germany have all seen deadly vehicle attacks in the past year or so.
#New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called it a "lone wolf" attack and said there was no evidence to suggest it was part of a wider plot.
#New York City Police Commissioner James O'Neill said a statement the driver made as he got out of the truck and the method of attack led police to conclude it was a terrorist act.
