8 dead after Florida man drives through bicycle path in New York City

NEW YORK – At least 8 people are dead after New York City police say a Florida man drove onto a busy bicycle path and struck several people, then emerged from the vehicle screaming and firing something that appeared to be a gun.

WATCH VIDEO: NYC suspect runs from carnage after plowing through bike path

6 were pronounced dead on the scene and 2 died after being transported to the hospital. 9 people were reportedly hurt in the incident near the World Trade Center site.

Sayfullo Saipov, 29, from Tampa has been identified as the suspect.

The department writes on Twitter that Saipov got out of a rented Home Depot van displaying imitation firearms and was shot by police officers. Police say the person is in custody.

CNN reports Saipov shouted "Allah Akhbar" after getting out of the van.  The FBI is now taking over the investigation.

New York City mayor Bill de Blassio says the truck attack was a "cowardly" act of terror.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called it a "lone wolf" attack. He says there's no evidence to suggest it was part of a wider plot.

A man who was riding in an Uber along the West Side Highway near the World Trade Center says he saw several bleeding people on the ground after a truck struck several people.

Witnesses have described a chaotic scene of the white pickup truck hitting bicyclists and then slamming into a school bus. 

Manhattan restaurant chef Eugene Duffy was crossing a street when he heard something, turned back and saw the pickup truck on the bike path. He says he saw the bodies of two men on the ground, their bikes mangled.

He says he ran south and saw a yellow half-size school bus that appeared to have been T-boned and firefighters trying to get children out.

A witness said the truck had also collided with a small bus and one other vehicle.

The White House says President Donald Trump has been briefed on the incident.   

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders says the president and New York native has been briefed by White House chief of staff John Kelly and "will be continually updated as more details are known."

Sanders says, "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected."