A man driving a pick-up truck mowed on pedestrians and cyclists at Lower Manhattan, New York, killing eight persons and injuring about a dozen others.

International media reported the attacker, named as Sayfullo Saipov, who tried to flee the scene after the attack, was later arrested by police.

New York Times reported that investigators found a note left behind by the suspect claiming he was carrying out the attack in the name of Islamic State.

The attacker was an Uzbekistan-born immigrant settled in Florida, BBC stated.

American President Donald Trump offered his condolences to the victims and families and said US must not allow IS to return or enter into US after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio condemned the attack calling it a cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians and people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them.

The incident was the second biggest terrorist attack in New York since the September 11 incident when hijackers crashed jetliners into the Twin Tower and World Trade Center killing over 2,600 people. Ti was also the reminiscent of several deadly vehicle attacks in Europe during the past 15 months, Reuters reported.