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A bomb suspect has been arrested after an explosion rocked New York's main bus station, leaving terrified tourists "stampeding" from the area.

Officers and a bomb squad raced to Manhattan's busy Port Authority Bus Terminal following the "large" blast at rush hour this morning.

A suicide bomber, with a pipe bomb strapped to him, detonated the explosive device in an underground subway tunnel near Times Square.

The 'ISIS-inspired' suspect was detained after the bomb partially detonated in what the city's mayor described as an "attempted terrorist attack".

The alleged bomber, identified as Akayed Ullah, 27, suffered burns and cuts in the blast, while at least three victims were also injured.

For live updates on the blast, click here

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Horrifying video footage, apparently filmed in the underground passageway, appears to show the moment of the explosion.

In the footage, unsuspecting commuters can be seen going about their business when a sudden blast sends a cloud of smoke into the air.

Some are thrown forward, while others flee in terror.

The footage has yet to be verified.

One shocked woman earlier described how she was stuck in a "running stampede" at Port Authority after the explosion went off underground.

Taking to Twitter, she added: "Cops EVERYWHERE."

Meanwhile, Diego Fernandez, one of the commuters at the bus station, said: "There was a stampede up the stairs to get out.

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"Everybody was scared and running and shouting.''

Speaking at a press conference following the blast, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed: "This was an attempted terrorist attack".

"Thank God the perpetrator did not achieve his ultimate goals," he said.

Police commissioner James O'Neill said it was a "terror-related" incident.

He also said: “This is NYC, we don’t live in fear. But if you see something suspicious you have an obligation to come forward and tell us."

Officials said Ullah, from Brooklyn, was inspired by ISIS. However, he had apparently not had any direct contact with the terror group.

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The officials said he could be of Bangladeshi descent.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) earlier confirmed it was responding to reports of an explosion at 42nd Street and 8th Avenue.

The force tweeted: "The NYPD is responding to reports of an explosion of unknown origin at 42nd Street and 8th Ave, Manhattan.

"The A, C and E line are being evacuated at this time.

"Info is preliminary, more when available."

A police spokesman added: “It’s some type of explosion of unknown origin and the building is being evacuated as we speak."

In a later tweet, the NYPD said the suspect had been injured, but added: "No injuries other than suspect at this time".

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However, it has since emerged that three victims were wounded in the blast. All of the injuries are non-life-threatening, officials say.

The New York City Fire Department tweeted: "Update: A total of 4 injuries reported at the scene of an explosion at Port Authority.

"All injuries are non-life-threatening."

Police confirmed one male suspect was in custody.

They also advised people to avoid the area of the blast.

Good Morning America cited police sources as saying a possible pipe bomb detonated in an underground passageway at the terminal.

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Traffic was rerouted away from the area following the explosion, while some subway train lines at the busy station were evacuated.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr de Blasio confirmed there were "no known additional incidents or activities". But he added that there would be additional NYPD officers throughout the city after the blast.

US President Donald Trump has been briefed on the incident, according to local media and the White House.

In a statement posted on Twitter at around 8.15am local time (1.17pm UK time), the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) confirmed the Port Authority Bus Terminal was open.

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However, it said: "Due to police activity, the entrance to the subway at the Port Authority Bus Terminal on Eighth Avenue is closed."

Just 10 minutes later, it emerged the terminal was being temporarily closed by officials "due to police activity" following the blast.

The (PANYNJ) tweeted: "Due to police activity following an incident, the Port Authority Bus Terminal (PABusTerminal) is being temporarily closed by authorities. "

It has since been reopened.

The New York fire department earlier said it was responding to an incident at the terminal, one of the city's busiest commuter hubs.

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The suspect has been taken to Bellevue Hospital for treatment following the blast, according to the New York Post.

He remains in custody.

Today's incident occurred less than two months after eight people were killed when a rental truck sped down a New York City bike path.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for that attack.

In September last year, a man injured more than two dozen people when he set off a homemade bomb in the city's Chelsea district.

This story is developing.