BLACK HALLOWEEN: 8 killed in worst terror attack on NY since 9/11 as extremist mows down cyclists

Eight people have been killed in the worst terror attack on New York since September 11, 2001 as a lone wolf extremist used a pick-up truck to mow down cyclists along a bike path on Halloween.

The attacker struck just a few blocks from the site of the World Trade Center memorial, running over afternoon riders on the path before reaching a road and ploughing into a school bus.

He then jumped out of the truck wielding what turned out to be a pellet gun, and a paintball gun before being chased and shot in the stomach by a police officer.

He however survived the shot and was arrested.

Media reports named the attacker as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, 29, an immigrant from Uzbekistan, who arrived in the US in 2010 and lives in Tampa, Florida.

Read also: In May, A Religious Sect Attacked A Jail And Freed An Estimated 4,000 Inmates.

Reacting, President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter, “Looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!”

Trump blamed the attack on Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant which had encouraged its followers to use vehicles to mow people down. The UK, France and Germany have all seen deadly vehicle attacks in the recent past.

The US president added, “We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!”

A White House official said Trump had been fully briefed by his chief of staff John Kelly and was being “continually updated”.

Reactions have been pouring in from around the world since the attack unfolded.

Prime Minister Theresa May said she was “appalled by this cowardly attack, my thoughts are with all affected. Together we will defeat the evil of terrorism”.

Bill de Blasio, the Mayor of New York, said, “It’s a very painful day in our city, a horrible tragedy. This was a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians going about their lives with no idea of what was about to hit them.

“We know this action was intended to break our spirit. We have been tested before as a city, very near the site of today’s attack. We will respond as we always do, we will be undeterred.”

The suspect had reportedly rented the pick-up truck from a Home Depot hardware shop. He was then said to have driven down the bike path for 20 street blocks, running down cyclists, before hitting the school bus. Two children on the bus were among 11 people injured in the attack.

Belgium said one of its nationals was among the people killed, even as witnesses said they initially thought the attack was a Halloween prank.

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