A suspect drove a white truck down a heavily trafficked bike path in New York City on Thursday October 26, 2017. Photo: CNN

Six people were declared dead at the scene and two were pronounced dead at the hospital, and 11 were transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to New York Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro.

The driver of a rental truck drove the wrong way down a busy bicycle path in Manhattan near the World Trade Center, killing up to six people and striking numerous others, a New York Police official said.

The driver then exited the vehicle while displaying imitation firearms and was shot by police, according to the NYPD. The suspect is in police custody and was taken to a hospital for treatment, sources at the NYPD said. 

The incident is being investigated as terrorism, according to multiple law enforcement sources. Witnesses reported the suspect was yelling "Allahu Akbar," according to four law enforcement sources. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is taking over the lead of the investigation.

The suspect, driving in a Home Depot rental truck, hopped a curb at West Houston Street and drove south on the bike path on the west side of West Side Highway in Lower Manhattan for several blocks, the official said.

After striking multiple people, the suspect hit a school bus and wrecked his truck, an NYPD official said. Four people were removed from the bus and they had minor injuries, the official said.

No other suspects are being sought, the NYPD said.

Vehicles have been used as weapons in a number of terrorist attacksin recent years, including in deadly incidents in Nice, France, and London.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo both said they are heading to the scene. The White House said President Trump was briefed by chief of staff John Kelly on the incident in lower Manhattan and "will be continually updated as more details are known."

Press secretary Sarah Sanders said, "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected."

A spokesman for Home Depot confirmed one of the company's rental trucks was part of an incident in lower Manhattan and said the company is "cooperating with authorities" in the investigation.