This article originally appeared on TIME.
Eight people were killed and eleven were injured Tuesday afternoon when a driver struck several pedestrians on a busy bike path in lower Manhattan — an incident the New York City mayor has called a “cowardly act of terror.”
The suspect — who exited his rented pickup truck with imitation firearms and was shot by police officers — has been taken into custody, police said.
An investigation into the attack is still ongoing. Here’s what we know so far:
Several people were killed
At least eight people were killed and 11 others were seriously injured, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a press conference Tuesday night, calling it “a very painful day in our city.”
Two adults and two children were also injured when the suspect struck a school bus. A representative for the city’s Department of Education said the children were students in the New York City school system, and the adults were staffers contracted to work with the DOE through a bus company. They are among those who sustained injuries that are serious but not life-threatening.
The Argentine Foreign Ministry confirmed that five Argentinians were among the dead, according to a statement. One Belgian was also killed in the attack, Belgian foreign minister Didier Reynders told Belga news agency. Additional Belgian and Argentinian nationals were also among the wounded, according to AP.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene with victims lying on the ground beside twisted bicycles. Later, parents rushed to nearby schools to pick up their children, dressed in Halloween costumes.
“We know that this action was intended to break our spirit, but we also know New Yorkers are strong, New Yorkers are resilient, and our spirit will never be moved by an act of violence,” de Blasio said.
“[New Yorkers] are resilient and won’t be deterred. Great to see large crowd at annual Halloween parade in Village. [Thanks] for showing the world who we are,” NY Police Department Commissioner James O’Neill said on Twitter.
The suspect has been taken into custody
Police said the suspect — a 29-year-old man — struck pedestrians and cyclists on the bike path around 3 p.m. and continued driving a rented Home Depot pickup truck, colliding with a school bus.
The suspect then exited the vehicle holding a paintball gun and a pellet gun and shouted, “Allahu akbar,” the Associated Press reported, citing a law enforcement official. The phrase translates to “God is great” in Arabic.
The suspect has been identified as Sayfullo Saipov, the AP reported, citing two law enforcement officials. Court records indicate Saipov had an address in Tampa, Fla. He is believed to have been living most recently in Patterson, N.J., where the truck was rented, with his wife and three children.
Saipov was shot by law enforcement officers, taken into custody and transported to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery but is expected to survive, according to AP. Police said there are no other suspects.
Uber confirmed that Saipov was a driver and has been banned from the Uber app. Spokesperson for the company tells TIME: “We are horrified by this senseless act of violence. Our hearts are with the victims and their families. We have reached out to law enforcement to provide our full assistance.”
Officials called the attack an ‘act of terror’
“This was an act of terror — and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians,” de Blasio said.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said there is no evidence of an ongoing threat at this time, and city officials urged New Yorkers to continue with their usual schedules.
The city’s annual Halloween parade began as scheduled at 7 p.m. More law enforcement officers and heavy weapons teams have been stationed along the route and at iconic locations throughout the city, police said.
The assault bore similarities to incidents carried out in Europe by attackers affiliated with the Islamic State, including in Nice, France in July 2016, in Berlin in December 2016, in London in June 2017, and in Barcelona in August 2017. While there was no immediate announcement from the Islamic State claiming responsibility for this attack, law enforcement officials found a handwritten note declaring allegiance to the group inside the rented truck, the Washington Post reported.
“We will be vigilant — more police everywhere,” Cuomo said at Tuesday’s press conference. “You’ll see them in the airports, you’ll see them in the tunnels. It’s not because there’s any evidence of an ongoing threat or any additional threat. It’s just out of vigilance and out of caution.”
The attack took place in lower Manhattan
The incident occurred on a popular bike path along the Hudson River near Stuyvesant High School in Lower Manhattan, a few blocks north of the World Trade Center.
“We have been tested before as a city very near to the site of today’s tragedy, and New Yorkers do not give in in the face of these kinds of actions,” de Blasio said. “We’ll respond as we always do. We will be undeterred.”
Leaders react: ‘My heart breaks for NYC’
President Donald Trump condemned the attack in a series of tweets, emphasizing the threat of the Islamic State in the Middle East “and elsewhere” before offering his condolences. Investigators have not uncovered any evidence directly linking Saipov to the Islamic State, and are treating the attack as “inspired” by the group, according to the New York Times.
Two and a half hours later, Trump tweeted again, pressing the need for “Extreme Vetting” by Homeland Security. The latest version of his administration’s travel ban, which prohibited entry from six Muslim-majority countries, expired Sept. 24, but is expected to be replaced by new restrictions.
First lady Melania Trump also tweeted, expressing her “thoughts & prayers” as the investigation proceeds:
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.