Eight dead in New York as van mounts cycle path

Killer shouted “Allahu akbar” as he leapt from the truck

A man has driven a rented van on to a busy New York cycle path, killing eight people in an incident being treated as a terrorist attack.

The 29-year-old driver, named last night as Sayfullo Saipov from Tampa, Florida, then jumped out with what turned out to be two fake guns, shouting “Allahu akbar” before he was shot in the stomach by a police officer.

He was taken into custody and his condition was not immediately disclosed.

At least 11 people were injured in the incident, near the World Trade Centre in Manhattan. None of the injuries are life-threatening.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called it “a particularly cowardly act of terror”.

He said the attack was “aimed at innocent civilians going about their daily lives”.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said it was a “lone wolf” attack and there was no evidence it was part of a wider plot.

President Donald Trump tweeted: “In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person.”

He said law enforcement “is following” the attack closely and adds: “NOT IN THE U.S.A.!”

Witnesses described a scene of panic and blood, with people screaming in fear and the path strewn with bodies and mangled bicycles.

Police said the vehicle, a rented Home Depot truck entered the cycle path on West Street a few streets from the new World Trade Centre and mowed down several people.

The truck also slammed into a small yellow school bus, injuring two adults and two children.

Uber driver Chen Yi said he saw a truck plough into people on the cycle path.

He said he then heard seven to eight shots and then police pointing a gun at a man kneeling on the pavement.

“I saw a lot of blood over there. A lot of people on the ground,” he said.

Pictures: AP. Bicycles and debris lies on a cycle path after a motorist drove on to it near the World Trade Center memorial. Below: the damaged Home Depot truck driven by the attacker.