Police officers and fire crew stand outside the Port Authority Bus Terminal (Picture:REUTERS)

A suicide bomb exploded at New York Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan this morning.

Police say a suspect identified as 27-year-old Akayed Ullah was one of four injured in the failed attack.

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He has been taken into custody following the explosion at the terminal on the corner of 42nd Street and 8th Avenue.

There are unverified reports that the blast may have been as a result of a pipe bomb that partially detonated in an underpass.

It is thought that the bomb may have gone off prematurely and was not intended to have detonated in that location, sources told CNN.

The man arrested has been identified as Akayed Ullah, 27 (Picture: Twitter/@sandeep_k2)

Emergency services and the FBI were called to the scene (Picture: Getty Images)

Emergency services responded to the scene on Monday morning (Picture: EPA/JUSTIN LANE)

Mayor Bill de Blasio said it’s business as usual (Picture: REUTERS/Mike Segar)

The bomb went off as commuters walked through Port Authority (Picture: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

A bomb squad was called to the scene in Port Authority on Monday morning (Picture: Twitter)

Commuters were rushed out of the bus station (Picture: REUTERS/Edward Tobin)

Emergency vehicles lined the streets near Times Square (Picture: REUTERS/Edward Tobin)

At least one person has reportedly been injured (Picture: WTKR)

The area has been placed in lock down (Picture: Twitter/Not_Monroe)

Heavily armed police were seen in the area (Picture: Getty)

Multiple subway lines were evacuated (Picture: Getty Images)

The suspect is the only person believed to be injured (Picture: Getty)

Francisco Ramirez said he heard two blasts through his headphones as he got off a bus.

He told CNN: ‘From what I saw it sounded like it came from the subway, but I’m just guessing. It was two distinct explosions seconds from each other. As I was making my way toward the outside, I kept getting shoved by cops and there were cops at every entrance blocking and there was police and SWAT everywhere.

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‘It was scary. It was just a lot of chaos but I didn’t see any injuries.’

Greg Belpomme, who works in the area, described the chaos after he arrived at the bus station following the explosion.

He told Metro US: ‘As soon as I got out there was about five heavily-armed coppers in the station entrance and outside was just rammed with news crews, police and people all on their phones letting everyone know they’re safe. Police were sprinting between us making sure people were okay.’

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The bus station is a short walk from Times Square (Picture: Metro)

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. pic.twitter.com/7vpNT97iLC — NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 11, 2017

#BREAKING: NY bus terminal explosion: Man with “possible second device" detained in Manhattan subway tunnel, sources say to @PIX11News pic.twitter.com/fBNb657uj8 — Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) December 11, 2017

Mayor Bill de Blasio said: ‘Let’s be clear that this was an attempted terrorist attack. thank god the perpetrator did not achieve his ultimate goals. Thank god the only injuries we know of at this point were minor.

‘The choice of New York is always for a reason, because we show that a society of many faiths and background can work and our enemies want to undermined that. But New York City is blessed with the finest lay enforcement.

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‘It’s very important for my fellow New Yorkers to know that there are no additional known activities at this time. At this point in time all we know of is one individual who was unsuccessful in their aims.

‘This is the most resilient place on earth, we’ve proven it time and time again. the terrorists will not win, we will continue being New Yorkers — let’s get back to work.’

The busy terminal near Times Square has been evacuated and the area is closed off to traffic.

A spokesperson for the New York Police Department said the explosion is of an ‘unknown origin’.

The A, C and E lines have been evacuated.

The New York Fire Department has also said that they are investigating.

A spokesperson for New York City Mayor’s Office posted on Twitter: ‘The mayor has been briefed on the incident in Midtown. The NYPD, FDNY and first responders are on the scene.’

The Port Authority Bus Terminal is close to the Theater District, around ten minutes walk from Times Square.