Theresa May says Britain ‘stands with NYC’ after ‘cowardly’ terrorist kills eight in Manhattan

PRIME Minister Theresa May has said the UK stands with New York City following last night's terror attack which killed eight people.

More than a dozen others were injured in the incident, when a truck careered down a cycle path near the 9/11 memorial site in Manhattan on Tuesday.

The driver, reported to be 29-year Uzbek Sayfullo Saipov, was shot by police after jumping out of the rented vehicle with what turned out to be two fake guns.

He was taken to hospital and is in police custody.

Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York described the attack as "a particularly cowardly act of terror" that was "aimed at innocent civilians going about their daily lives".

And Mrs May tweeted: "Appalled by this cowardly attack, my thoughts are with all affected. Together we will defeat the evil of terrorism. UK stands with #NYC."

London's mayor Sadiq Khan paid tribute to the victims, saying: "London stands in grief and solidarity with the great city of New York tonight after the despicable and cowardly terrorist attack in Manhattan.

"My heart goes out to the victims and their families.

"New Yorkers are strong and resilient - I know they will not be cowed by this assault on the innocent, and on our shared values and way of life."

The Foreign Office said it is standing by to provide assistance to any Britons affected by the atrocity.

A spokesman said: "We are in contact with the local authorities and stand ready to provide any assistance but are not aware of any British citizens involved as yet."

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

Police said the vehicle, a rented Home Depot truck, entered the cycle path on West Street and mowed down several people.

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

A paintball gun and a pellet gun were found at the scene, police said.

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 added: "NOT IN THE U.S.A.!"

The president later tweeted: "We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!"

What we know so far:

• Eight people have been killed and more than a dozen injured in a terror attack in New York City on Halloween
• A rented pickup truck careered down a busy cycle path for almost a mile at 3.05pm (7.05pm GMT) close to the World Trade Centre in Manhattan before smashing into a school bus
• The driver fled the vehicle brandishing a paintball gun and a pellet gun in each hand, while witnesses claim he shouted "Allahu Akbar" before he was shot in the stomach by police
• The suspect was named by law enforcement officials as Sayfullo Saipov, 29, who is understood to have moved to Tampa, Florida, from Uzbekistan in 2010
• Officers say the suspect was injured but it is expected to survive as they confirmed it was a terror attack
• President Donald Trump tweeted that the New York terror attack was carried out by a "very sick and deranged person" and added that "we must not allow ISIS to return, or enter our country"

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