Speaking at a press conference where officials confirmed they were treating the attack as “cowardly terrorist attack”, Mr Blasio said a number of other people had been injured.

“Let me be clear, this was an act of terrorism, a particularly cowardly act of terrorism aimed at innocent civilians,” he said, speaking on a evening when the city was preparing to celebrate Halloween.

New York Truck attack Show all 6 1 /6 New York Truck attack New York Truck attack Investigators inspect the truck following the attack Investigators inspect a truck following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday when a suspect plowed a vehicle into a bike and pedestrian path in Lower Manhattan, and struck another vehicle on Halloween, police said. A suspect exited the vehicle holding up fake guns, before being shot by police and taken into custody, officers said. The motive was not immediately apparent. Getty New York Truck attack A paramedic looks at a body along the bike path A paramedic looks at a body covered under a white sheet along the bike path 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people Tuesday, police and witnesses said. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack The truck driver collided with a school bus Authorities respond near a damaged school bus Tuesday, 31 October 2017, in New York. A motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people, police and witnesses said. Two adults and two children were on the bus at the time. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews New York Truck attack A young girl reacts to the scene A young girl reacts as police officers secure an area following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Several people were killed and numerous others injured in New York on Tuesday after a vehicle plowed into a pedestrian and bike path in Lower Manhattan, police said. 'The vehicle struck multiple people on the path,' police tweeted. 'The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD.' DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Police officers arrive at the scene Police officers arrive at the scene following a shooting incident in New York on 31 October 2017. Multiple people were hurt in downtown Manhattan, US media reported after police confirmed that they were responding to reports of a shooting. Police said they had mobilized to the scene in Lower Manhattan and that one person was in custody, giving no further details. DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images New York Truck attack Emergency personnel respond to truck attack in lower Manhattan Emergency personal respond after reports of multiple people hit by a truck after it plowed through a bike path in lower Manhattan on 31 October 2017 in New York City. According to reports up to six people may have been killed. Kena Betancur/Getty Images

Officials said the suspect, a 29-year-old man, who police declined to identify at this stage, had entered the bicycle lane at 3.05pm in a rental truck belonging to the Home Depot chain, striking cyclists and pedestrians. At Chambers Street, the driver struck a school bus, injuring two adults and children.

At that point, the suspect emerged from the truck carrying what appeared to be two handguns - a paintball gun and pellet gun. As he did so, he shouted “Allahu Akbar”. Officials said the suspect was shot in the abdomen and taken away by police.

Police attend incident in New York after reports of shooting and van hitting pedestrians

New York Police Commissioner James O’Neill said that the statement from from the suspect when he exited the truck was “consistent” with a terrorist attack. Officials said the suspect was not from New York but would not provide information about where he came from - either from in the US or overseas.

The Associated Press said that witnesses described a scene of panic and blood, with people screaming in fear and the path strewn with bodies and mangled bicycles.

Tom Gay, a school photographer, was on Warren Street and heard people saying there was an accident. He told the news agency, he went down to West Street and a woman came around the corner shouting, “He has a gun! He has a gun!’

Mr Gay said he stuck his head around the corner and saw a slender man in a blue track suit running southbound on West Street holding a gun. He said there was a heavyset man pursuing him.