From BBC

At least eight people have been killed in New York after the driver of a truck mowed down people on a cycle path in Lower Manhattan.

A man who emerged from the vehicle brandishing imitation guns was shot by a police officer and arrested.

Police urged people to avoid the area as a major emergency services operation got under way.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said it was “a cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians”.

Mangled bicycles littered the scene of the attack.

Retailer Home Depot confirmed that the truck had been rented from it.

One witness, identified as “Eugene,” told ABC Channel 7 that he saw a white pick-up truck driving fast down the cycle path alongside the West Side Highway, near Stuyvesant High School, at full speed and hitting a number of people.

He also reported hearing about nine or 10 shots.

The New York Police Department described what had happened in a series of tweets:

• “Earlier a vehicle entered the West St. pedestrian/bike path a few blocks north of Chambers St.
• “The vehicle struck multiple people on the path. There are several fatalities and numerous people injured.
• “The vehicle continued south striking another vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle displaying imitation firearms & was shot by NYPD
• “The suspect is in custody. This is preliminary, more information to follow.”

Another witness, who gave his name as “Frank”, told local TV network NY1 that he had seen a man running around an intersection and heard five to six gunshots.

“I saw he had something in his hand, but I couldn’t tell what it was. But they said that it was a gun…

“When the cops shot him, everybody started running away and it got a little bit crazy right there. So when I tried to look again, the guy was already down.”

Mr de Blasio and New York state’s Governor Andrew Cuomo are at the scene.

President Donald Trump had been briefed on the incident, the White House said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected,” spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

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