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New York Police Department confirmed the man had used a pipe bomb-style device fixed to his body using velcro. The bomb was detonated in a passageway connecting two Subway lines below ground at the Port Authority bus terminal at around 7.20am local time. Police confirmed a man, aged 27 and named by police as Akayed Ullah, was detained following an "attempted terrorist attack". Ullah suffered serious injuries in the blast, leaving him with burns to his torso, and has been rushed to hospital. Three other people in the vicinity were caught up in the blast but suffered only minor injuries.

Police said the man made “statements” to police but would not reveal if he had any links to Isis. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo later told CNN the attacker was "disgruntled" and had taught himself how to make the pipe bomb from the internet. More information is expected to come to light fter police comb through the CCTV footage from the subway, which captured the whole incident. Local media reported Ullah was originally from Bangladesh and there were police raids on a home in Brooklyn following the explosion. A picture allegedly showed the attacker lying prone on the ground in burnt clothing.

An explosion was reported in New York

GETTY/REUTERS The bomb went off at the start of rush hour

Terrified bystanders said there was a "stampede" as they were evacuated from the area at 42nd Street and 8th Avenue. Designer Chelsea La Salle tweeted: “Just was stuck in a running stampede at port authority bus terminal due to bomb scare. Cops EVERYWHERE.” She said there had been an “actual explosion” just before she got on the subway. Keith Woodfin wrote: “I was exiting the Port Authority and the National Guard was running towards something shouting ‘Go, Go, Go’.” Commuter Diego Fernandez said: "There was a stampede up the stairs to get out. "Everybody was scared and running and shouting."

New York explosion LIVE pictures as bomb squad swoops near Times Square Mon, December 11, 2017 New York police are responding to reports of a pipe bomb explosion at a bus terminal in New York City causing a 'stampede' and mass evacuations on the Subway network. Play slideshow 1 of 21 Fire crews in New York

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

SKY Fire and police crews at the scene

SKY A man has been detained at the scene

Alicja Wlodkowski said she was inside a restaurant at the Port Authority when she witnessed a stampede of people fleeing. The 51-year-old told the New York Times: “A woman fell, and nobody even stopped to help her because it was so crazy. “Then it all slowed down. I was standing and watching and scared.” Students Ali and Saidou Choudhury said they were moments from entering the subway on their way to school when the blast went off.

NYFD Fire crews descended on the area

ESPAINNEWS Fire crews in New York

Ali, 18, told NBC News: "I was about to swipe in my card and out of nowhere, we heard a really loud bang, everyone said 'get out, get out!'” Saidou Choudhury, 19, said the explosion "sounded like it was deep inside." He added: "I was traumatised." New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told a press conference later: “This is New York, the reality is that we are a target to many who would like to make a statement against democracy, against freedom.”

REUTERS The bomb squad was dispatched to the Subway

The incident took place near the Port Authority terminal

Mayor Bill de Blasio said: “Let’s be clear - this was an attempted terrorist attack. The choice of New York is always for a reason. We are a beacon to the world. We show that democracy can work. The terrorists want to undermine that, so they yearn to attack New York City.” President Donald Trump said the attack highlights the "urgent need" for Congress to enact immigration reform legislation. Trump said in a statement the suspect had entered the United States on a family immigrant visa, benefiting from a U.S. policy known as chain migration, which the president said "is incompatible with national security." Scores of police and fire vehicles descended on the area, while Times Square was placed on lockdown. There had been drills teaching police how to respond to an incident of exactly this kind one month previously, making the police and emergency response especially effective. Police tweeted: "You will see a greater presence of police personnel throughout the city. There are no other specific and credible threats against NYC at this time."

REUTERS The area was placed on lockdown