New York attack suspect 'shouted Allah Akbar' after leaving truck he hit pedestrians with

At least eight people have died and more than a dozen others injured

The New York terror attack suspect apparently shouted "Allah Akbar" during the incident, it has been reported.

At least eight people have died and several others have been injured in lower Manhattan.

Witnesses reportedly told the New York Police Department (NYPD) they heard the attacker, who is a 29-year-old male, shout after he left the truck that he used to run over pedestrians.

The incident took place near the West Side Highway and Chambers St, in close proximity to Stuyvesant High School, the Freedom Tower, and the September 11th Memorial, where the World Trade Center once stood.

Officials said that a pickup truck was driven down a bike path located alongside the Hudson River.

The NYPD said the man, who is believed to have driven the vehicle, then exited and started displaying what subsequently emerged to be imitation firearms.

There were eyewitness reports of several shots fired near the September 11th memorial site but there has been no report as to whether all the deaths were due to the vehicle or shots fired.

He was shot by police on the scene and has now been taken into custody.

The incident is being treated as a terrorist attack and the FBI has taken charge of the investigation.