A truck driver who mowed through a crowd and killed eight people in an <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/truck-kills-8-on-new-york-bike-path-in-us-deadliest-attack-since-911-23265">&quot;act of terror&quot; in New York</a> was 29-year-old Uzbek citizen Sayfullo Saipov, according to police sources and reports.

If confirmed, this will bring to four the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/using-vehicles-as-weapons-of-terror-in-europe-and-america-23279">number of attacks</a> in less than a year by an assailant believed to have links to the Central Asian country.

Here are some facts about Islamic militancy in ex-Soviet Uzbekistan: Poverty, corruption, and the stifling political climate under Central Asia&#39;s authoritarian regimes have provided major spurs for young men to head off to fight.&nbsp;

The International Crisis Group estimated that between 2,000 and 4,000 militants from Central Asia may have signed up under the banner of IS.

Uzbekistan, which borders volatile Afghanistan, has never released an estimated number of its nationals suspected of having joined the ranks of jihadists groups abroad.&nbsp;

But the International Crisis Group has said that the largest single group of IS supporters among Central Asians were either Uzbek nationals or ethnic Uzbeks from neighbouring states.&nbsp;

Uzbekistan-born Abdulkadir Masharipov confessed to gunning down 39 people at the Reina nightclub in Istanbul on New Year&#39;s Eve.&nbsp;

The alleged attacker in a Saint Petersburg metro bombing that killed 13 in April, 22-year-old Akbarjon Djalilov, was believed to be a Russian citizen born to an Uzbek family in the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan.

The same month Rakhmat Akilov, a 39-year-old Uzbek national, was arrested after a truck attack in Stockholm that killed four people. Uzbek authorities said he had ties to IS.&nbsp;

And this month 27-year-old Uzbek resident of New York was sentenced on Friday to 15 years in a US prison for conspiring to support the IS group in Iraq and Syria.Central Asia has some long-established jihadist groups such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), which formally backed IS in 2015.&nbsp;

Set up in the late 1990s, the IMU is listed as a terrorist group by the United States. According to the United Nations, some of its leaders have held top positions in Al-Qaeda.

The group claimed its fighters were involved in a brazen attack on the international airport in Karachi, Pakistan, that killed 37 people in June 2014.

The IMU and one of its splinter groups were blamed for a series of bombings and other attacks that took place in the Uzbek capital Tashkent in 1999 and 2004.

But the group failed to carve out a base in ex-Soviet Central Asia and many of its members relocated to Afghanistan, where it reportedly suffered heavy losses due to US-led coalition air strikes.Uzbekistan, the most populous country in the region, clamped down on militant Islam after the fall of the Soviet Union under the secular rule of its long-standing leader Islam Karimov who died in 2016.

Regional militaries, of which Uzbekistan&#39;s is the largest, are mostly ill-equipped to handle any potential spillover from Afghanistan where IS militants are also seeking to firm up their foothold amid a new outburst of violence.

Uzbekistan quit a Russia-led security organisation in 2012 and cancelled the lease of a US military base used in Afghanistan operations after Washington called for an independent investigation into a brutal crackdown on protesters in 2005.

A truck driver who mowed through a crowd and killed eight people in an "act of terror" in New York was 29-year-old Uzbek citizen Sayfullo Saipov, according to police sources and reports.

A truck driver who mowed through a crowd and killed eight people in an "act of terror" in New York was 29-year-old Uzbek citizen Sayfullo Saipov, according to police sources and reports. If confirmed, this will bring to four the number of attacks in less than a year by an assailant believed to have links to the Central Asian country. Here are some facts about Islamic militancy in ex-Soviet Uzbekistan: Poverty, corruption, and the stifling political climate under Central Asia's authoritarian regimes have provided major spurs for young men to head off to fight. The International Crisis Group estimated that between 2,000 and 4,000 militants from Central Asia may have signed up under the banner of IS. Uzbekistan, which borders volatile Afghanistan, has never released an estimated number of its nationals suspected of having joined the ranks of jihadists groups abroad. But the International Crisis Group has said that the largest single group of IS supporters among Central Asians were either Uzbek nationals or ethnic Uzbeks from neighbouring states. Uzbekistan-born Abdulkadir Masharipov confessed to gunning down 39 people at the Reina nightclub in Istanbul on New Year's Eve. The alleged attacker in a Saint Petersburg metro bombing that killed 13 in April, 22-year-old Akbarjon Djalilov, was believed to be a Russian citizen born to an Uzbek family in the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan. The same month Rakhmat Akilov, a 39-year-old Uzbek national, was arrested after a truck attack in Stockholm that killed four people. Uzbek authorities said he had ties to IS. And this month 27-year-old Uzbek resident of New York was sentenced on Friday to 15 years in a US prison for conspiring to support the IS group in Iraq and Syria.Central Asia has some long-established jihadist groups such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), which formally backed IS in 2015. Set up in the late 1990s, the IMU is listed as a terrorist group by the United States. According to the United Nations, some of its leaders have held top positions in Al-Qaeda. The group claimed its fighters were involved in a brazen attack on the international airport in Karachi, Pakistan, that killed 37 people in June 2014. The IMU and one of its splinter groups were blamed for a series of bombings and other attacks that took place in the Uzbek capital Tashkent in 1999 and 2004. But the group failed to carve out a base in ex-Soviet Central Asia and many of its members relocated to Afghanistan, where it reportedly suffered heavy losses due to US-led coalition air strikes.Uzbekistan, the most populous country in the region, clamped down on militant Islam after the fall of the Soviet Union under the secular rule of its long-standing leader Islam Karimov who died in 2016. Regional militaries, of which Uzbekistan's is the largest, are mostly ill-equipped to handle any potential spillover from Afghanistan where IS militants are also seeking to firm up their foothold amid a new outburst of violence. Uzbekistan quit a Russia-led security organisation in 2012 and cancelled the lease of a US military base used in Afghanistan operations after Washington called for an independent investigation into a brutal crackdown on protesters in 2005.

Arrest of New York attacker again highlights Uzbekistan's links to global terror

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/eight-dead-in-suspected-terrorist-truck-attack-on-manhattan-bike-path-23254">terror attack in New York</a> in which eight people have been killed.

&quot;Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased &amp; prayers with those injured,&quot; PM Modi tweeted.

A driver in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists on a bike path alongside the Hudson River in New York City on Tuesday, killing eight people and injuring about a dozen others.

It was the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-condemns-new-york-terrorist-attack-23255">greatest loss of life</a> from a suspected terrorist attack in New York since suicide hijackers crashed jetliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan on September 11, 2001, killing more than 2,600 people.

The 29-year-old suspect in Tuesday&#39;s attack was shot in the abdomen by police and taken into custody after he crashed the truck into a school bus and fled his vehicle, New York City Police Commissioner James O&#39;Neill told a news conference.

"Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased & prayers with those injured," PM Modi tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the terror attack in New York in which eight people have been killed. "Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased & prayers with those injured," PM Modi tweeted. A driver in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists on a bike path alongside the Hudson River in New York City on Tuesday, killing eight people and injuring about a dozen others. It was the greatest loss of life from a suspected terrorist attack in New York since suicide hijackers crashed jetliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan on September 11, 2001, killing more than 2,600 people. The 29-year-old suspect in Tuesday's attack was shot in the abdomen by police and taken into custody after he crashed the truck into a school bus and fled his vehicle, New York City Police Commissioner James O'Neill told a news conference.

New York terror attack: My thoughts with families of deceased, tweets PM Modi

Priyanka Chopra, Taylor Swift, Josh Groban and Ryan Seacrest are among the celebrities who have condemned the attack in New York&#39;s Lower Manhattan. 
 
At least eight people were killed and 11 others were injured in the area after a gunman in a truck plowed through a busy bike path, an incident the US termed as an &quot;act of terrorism&quot;.&nbsp;Priyanka praising the city, her new home, for its grit on Twitter and shared that the attack took place &quot;five blocks&quot; away from where she lives. 
 
&quot;NYC... As resilient as ever. I love you. My condolences to everyone affected by this tragedy. &quot;This happened five blocks from my home. As I drive back home from work, dreary sirens remind me that this is the state of the world,&quot; the Quantico star tweeted.

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This happened 5 blocks from my home,As I drive back home from work,Dreary sirens remind me that this is the state of the world <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nyc?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nyc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/peace?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#peace</a> ??
&mdash; PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) <a href="https://twitter.com/priyankachopra/status/925551113956360192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Taylor Swift shared a photo of a sunset on her Instagram Story and captioned it, &quot;I love you New York&quot; and a broken heart emoji.&nbsp;

Josh Groban narrated the incident in a series of tweets, saying that he heard gunshots and ran with downtown with his dog.&nbsp;&quot;I hope everyone&#39;s ok. Was half a block from me, didn&#39;t see it but heard 8-10 quick rounds fired off. Be safe with your kids out there.&nbsp;&quot;I&#39;m shaking. That&#39;s the corner I was supposed to have my coffee but my dog pulled me into the park half a block away 10 min before shooting.

&quot;Devastated for the victims and their families tonight and inspired by the spirit of this city. Sirens and trick or treaters everywhere,&quot; he tweeted.

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Devastated for the victims and their families tonight &amp; inspired by the spirit of this city. Sirens and trick or treaters everywhere. ????
&mdash; josh goblin ?? (@joshgroban) <a href="https://twitter.com/joshgroban/status/925477407762546690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Zoe Saldana wrote, &quot;My heart is broken. Sending prayers to all the victims who&#39;s lives were taken today in NYC.&quot;

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My heart is broken. Sending prayers to all the victims who&#39;s lives were taken today in NYC
&mdash; Zoe Saldana (@zoesaldana) <a href="https://twitter.com/zoesaldana/status/925479182498381825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Host Ryan Seacrest condemned the attack, calling it a &quot;cowardly act&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones today in NYC,&quot; he wrote.

&quot;This is a terrible day. Families will be mourning their loved ones tonight. This is an action is the worst of mankind,&quot; wrote Patricia Arquette.

Comedian Billy Eichner retweeted a news article and wrote, &quot;That&#39;s my high school in the picture. This is sad and horrifying. Sending love to everyone there.&quot;&nbsp;

Singer Sam Smith tweeted, &quot;New York. My heart is with you always and forever. Devastating news. My soul and heart is with the victims and there loved ones. Horrific.&quot;&nbsp;The incident that took place in Manhattan, the most densely populated of New York City&#39;s 5 boroughs, has sent shocking waves across the country.

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New York. My heart is with you always and forever. Devastating news. My soul and heart is with the victims and there loved ones x horrific
&mdash; Sam Smith (@samsmithworld) <a href="https://twitter.com/samsmithworld/status/925476401494593537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The suspect, a 29-year-old man, was shot in the stomach before being taken into custody.&nbsp;

Priyanka Chopra, Taylor Swift, Josh Groban and Ryan Seacrest are among the celebrities who have condemned the attack in New York's Lower Manhattan.

Priyanka Chopra, Taylor Swift, Josh Groban and Ryan Seacrest are among the celebrities who have condemned the attack in New York's Lower Manhattan. At least eight people were killed and 11 others were injured in the area after a gunman in a truck plowed through a busy bike path, an incident the US termed as an "act of terrorism". Priyanka praising the city, her new home, for its grit on Twitter and shared that the attack took place "five blocks" away from where she lives. "NYC... As resilient as ever. I love you. My condolences to everyone affected by this tragedy. "This happened five blocks from my home. As I drive back home from work, dreary sirens remind me that this is the state of the world," the Quantico star tweeted. This happened 5 blocks from my home,As I drive back home from work,Dreary sirens remind me that this is the state of the world #nyc #peace ?? — PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) November 1, 2017 × Taylor Swift shared a photo of a sunset on her Instagram Story and captioned it, "I love you New York" and a broken heart emoji. Josh Groban narrated the incident in a series of tweets, saying that he heard gunshots and ran with downtown with his dog. "I hope everyone's ok. Was half a block from me, didn't see it but heard 8-10 quick rounds fired off. Be safe with your kids out there. "I'm shaking. That's the corner I was supposed to have my coffee but my dog pulled me into the park half a block away 10 min before shooting. "Devastated for the victims and their families tonight and inspired by the spirit of this city. Sirens and trick or treaters everywhere," he tweeted. Devastated for the victims and their families tonight & inspired by the spirit of this city. Sirens and trick or treaters everywhere. ???? — josh goblin ?? (@joshgroban) October 31, 2017 × Zoe Saldana wrote, "My heart is broken. Sending prayers to all the victims who's lives were taken today in NYC." My heart is broken. Sending prayers to all the victims who's lives were taken today in NYC — Zoe Saldana (@zoesaldana) October 31, 2017 × Host Ryan Seacrest condemned the attack, calling it a "cowardly act". "My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones today in NYC," he wrote. "This is a terrible day. Families will be mourning their loved ones tonight. This is an action is the worst of mankind," wrote Patricia Arquette. Comedian Billy Eichner retweeted a news article and wrote, "That's my high school in the picture. This is sad and horrifying. Sending love to everyone there." Singer Sam Smith tweeted, "New York. My heart is with you always and forever. Devastating news. My soul and heart is with the victims and there loved ones. Horrific." The incident that took place in Manhattan, the most densely populated of New York City's 5 boroughs, has sent shocking waves across the country. New York. My heart is with you always and forever. Devastating news. My soul and heart is with the victims and there loved ones x horrific — Sam Smith (@samsmithworld) October 31, 2017 × The suspect, a 29-year-old man, was shot in the stomach before being taken into custody.

New York terror attack: Priyanka Chopra, Taylor Swift, Josh Groban condemn the act

US President Trump said today he has <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/sayfullo-saipov-was-planning-new-york-attack-for-weeks-police-23326">started the process of terminating the US green card lottery system</a> just hours after Sayfullo Saipov, an Uzbek man drove through a bike path killing eight people in lower Manhattan.

&quot;I am starting the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-attacker-radicalized-domestically-governor-andrew-cuomo-23315">process of terminating the diversity lottery program,&quot; Trump</a> told reporters.

Trump said Saipov came to the US through the visa programme.

Trump also said he would &#39;certainly consider&#39; sending Saipov&nbsp;to America&#39;s military detention centre in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

&quot;I would certainly consider that,&quot; Trump told reporters.

Trump had earlier lashed out at the &#39;Diversity Visa Lottery Program&#39; blaming the Democrats and pressed for a &#39;merit-based&#39; program for immigrants to the United States.

&quot;The terrorist came into our country through what is called the &#39;Diversity Visa Lottery Program&#39;, a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit-based,&quot; Trump wrote in a post on Twitter, referring to the Senate Democratic leader.

Meanwhile, New York police said Sayfullo Saipov was planning the attack&nbsp;for weeks.

&quot;Based on the investigation overnight, it appears that Mr Saipov had been planning this for a number of weeks,&quot; John Miller, deputy commissioner of the New York Police Department said.

The police said Arabic notes referencing Islamic State were found at the New York attack site.

Police also added that Saipov was interviewed at the hospital but did not give details.

Sayfullo Saipov had never been the subject of a federal or local police probe, John Miller, deputy commissioner of the New York Police Department told reporters.

Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference that the New York Marathon will be held as planned. He said security will be heavily stepped up for the race involving more than 50,000 runners. 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Trump said Saipov came to the US through the diversity lottery program

US President Trump said today he has started the process of terminating the US green card lottery system just hours after Sayfullo Saipov, an Uzbek man drove through a bike path killing eight people in lower Manhattan. "I am starting the process of terminating the diversity lottery program," Trump told reporters. Trump said Saipov came to the US through the visa programme. Trump also said he would 'certainly consider' sending Saipov to America's military detention centre in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. "I would certainly consider that," Trump told reporters. Trump had earlier lashed out at the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program' blaming the Democrats and pressed for a 'merit-based' program for immigrants to the United States. "The terrorist came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program', a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit-based," Trump wrote in a post on Twitter, referring to the Senate Democratic leader. Meanwhile, New York police said Sayfullo Saipov was planning the attack for weeks. "Based on the investigation overnight, it appears that Mr Saipov had been planning this for a number of weeks," John Miller, deputy commissioner of the New York Police Department said. The police said Arabic notes referencing Islamic State were found at the New York attack site. Police also added that Saipov was interviewed at the hospital but did not give details. Sayfullo Saipov had never been the subject of a federal or local police probe, John Miller, deputy commissioner of the New York Police Department told reporters. Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference that the New York Marathon will be held as planned. He said security will be heavily stepped up for the race involving more than 50,000 runners.

Starting the process of terminating diversity lottery program: Trump

New York police said today that Sayfullo Saipov, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/arrest-of-new-york-attacker-again-highlights-uzbekistans-links-to-global-terror-23299">the man who drove a truck </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/arrest-of-new-york-attacker-again-highlights-uzbekistans-links-to-global-terror-23299">through</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/arrest-of-new-york-attacker-again-highlights-uzbekistans-links-to-global-terror-23299"> a cycle path, killing eight people</a> in lower Manhattan, was planning the attacks for weeks.

&quot;Based on the investigation overnight, it appears that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/timeline-unwinding-the-the-new-york-city-terror-attack-23295">Mr Saipov had been planning this for a number of weeks</a>,&quot; John Miller, deputy commissioner of the New York Police Department said.

The police said Arabic notes referencing Islamic State were found at the New York attack site.

Police also added that Saipov was interviewed at the hospital but did not give details.

Sayfullo Saipov had never been the subject of a federal or local police probe, John Miller, deputy commissioner of the New York Police Department told reporters.

Meanwhile, Mayor Bill de Blasio declared New York Marathon will be held as planned.&nbsp;

&quot;It will go on as scheduled. It will be<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/police-release-mugshot-of-suspect-in-new-york-truck-attack-23264"> an extraordinary event, as it always is,&quot; Mayor Bill </a>de Blasio told a news conference.

The beefed up security will feature more sand trucks parked to prevent vehicle attacks, extra police stationed on rooftops, and more anti-sniper units, among other steps, said NY police chief Carlos Gomez.

&quot;Police will be mixing in with the crowds to detect any suspicious activity,&quot; Gomez added.

US President Donald Trump criticized the nation&#39;s visa system in the wake of Tuesday&#39;s truck attack blaming Democrats and pressed for a &#39;merit-based&#39;&nbsp;program for immigrants to the United States.

&quot;The terrorist came into our country through what is called the &#39;Diversity Visa Lottery Program&#39;, a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit-based,&quot; Trump wrote in a post on Twitter, referring to the Senate Democratic leader.

Police said Saipov was interviewed at the hospital but did not give details

New York police said today that Sayfullo Saipov, the man who drove a truck through a cycle path, killing eight people in lower Manhattan, was planning the attacks for weeks. "Based on the investigation overnight, it appears that Mr Saipov had been planning this for a number of weeks," John Miller, deputy commissioner of the New York Police Department said. The police said Arabic notes referencing Islamic State were found at the New York attack site. Police also added that Saipov was interviewed at the hospital but did not give details. Sayfullo Saipov had never been the subject of a federal or local police probe, John Miller, deputy commissioner of the New York Police Department told reporters. Meanwhile, Mayor Bill de Blasio declared New York Marathon will be held as planned. "It will go on as scheduled. It will be an extraordinary event, as it always is," Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference. The beefed up security will feature more sand trucks parked to prevent vehicle attacks, extra police stationed on rooftops, and more anti-sniper units, among other steps, said NY police chief Carlos Gomez. "Police will be mixing in with the crowds to detect any suspicious activity," Gomez added. US President Donald Trump criticized the nation's visa system in the wake of Tuesday's truck attack blaming Democrats and pressed for a 'merit-based' program for immigrants to the United States. "The terrorist came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program', a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit-based," Trump wrote in a post on Twitter, referring to the Senate Democratic leader.

Sayfullo Saipov was planning New York attack for weeks: Police

Thousands of merry-makers, many dressed in elaborate Halloween costumes, paraded through lower Manhattan on Tuesday, undeterred by the attack that unfolded just hours earlier when a driver mowed down dozens of people on a bike path a few blocks away.

Revelers who joined the 44th annual Village Halloween Parade said they were painfully aware that eight people were killed in what authorities say was an act of terrorism but carried on with the festivities to show fortitude and solidarity with the victims.&nbsp;

&quot;You gotta live your life, you can&rsquo;t let things like this discourage you,&rdquo; said 60-year old Michael Spain along the route. &ldquo;As sobering as they are, you still gotta come out and enjoy stuff like this - or they win.&quot;

Thousands of people in costumes took part in the annual celebration along Greenwich Village&#39;s Sixth Avenue, typically one of the nation&#39;s largest Halloween parades. Hundreds of uniformed police officers maintained a steady presence throughout the mile-long route.

&quot;Out of an abundance of caution, you will see an increase of NYPD personnel throughout NYC, including the Halloween Parade,&quot; the New York City Police Department said on Twitter.

Among the participants were a Rio de Janeiro-style group with the drums, witches and ghosts, and a massive D&iacute;a de los Muertos group with 12-foot-tall skeletons.

&quot;Tonight we&#39;re at a Halloween parade to say, you didn&#39;t win and you didn&#39;t affect us, and we&#39;re out and we&#39;re celebrating and we&#39;re doing what New Yorkers do and we&#39;re living our lives because we&#39;re not going to allow the terrorists to win. Period,&quot; New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told CNN.

&quot;And that&#39;s why I&#39;m here marching in the parade, not because I have a great costume.&quot; said Cuomo, who was dressed in a suit and tie.

Jorge Arias, the owner of a wine shop and an adjacent bar near King Street, said that the crowd was slightly smaller than in past years but not by much.&nbsp;

&ldquo;By 5 o&rsquo;clock the street was a bit empty and last year it was already full,&rdquo; Arias, 42, said in Spanish. &quot;But now the crowds are more normal compared to last year. Maybe a little less, but almost the same.&rdquo;

Revelers who joined the 44th annual Village Halloween Parade said they were painfully aware that eight people were killed in what authorities say was an act of terrorism but carried on with the festivities to show fortitude and solidarity with the victims.

Thousands of merry-makers, many dressed in elaborate Halloween costumes, paraded through lower Manhattan on Tuesday, undeterred by the attack that unfolded just hours earlier when a driver mowed down dozens of people on a bike path a few blocks away. Revelers who joined the 44th annual Village Halloween Parade said they were painfully aware that eight people were killed in what authorities say was an act of terrorism but carried on with the festivities to show fortitude and solidarity with the victims. "You gotta live your life, you can’t let things like this discourage you,” said 60-year old Michael Spain along the route. “As sobering as they are, you still gotta come out and enjoy stuff like this - or they win." Thousands of people in costumes took part in the annual celebration along Greenwich Village's Sixth Avenue, typically one of the nation's largest Halloween parades. Hundreds of uniformed police officers maintained a steady presence throughout the mile-long route. "Out of an abundance of caution, you will see an increase of NYPD personnel throughout NYC, including the Halloween Parade," the New York City Police Department said on Twitter. Among the participants were a Rio de Janeiro-style group with the drums, witches and ghosts, and a massive Día de los Muertos group with 12-foot-tall skeletons. "Tonight we're at a Halloween parade to say, you didn't win and you didn't affect us, and we're out and we're celebrating and we're doing what New Yorkers do and we're living our lives because we're not going to allow the terrorists to win. Period," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told CNN. "And that's why I'm here marching in the parade, not because I have a great costume." said Cuomo, who was dressed in a suit and tie. Jorge Arias, the owner of a wine shop and an adjacent bar near King Street, said that the crowd was slightly smaller than in past years but not by much. “By 5 o’clock the street was a bit empty and last year it was already full,” Arias, 42, said in Spanish. "But now the crowds are more normal compared to last year. Maybe a little less, but almost the same.”

Exuberant and defiant, New Yorkers flock to Halloween parade despite attack

It was supposed to be a day of fun -&nbsp;trick-or-treating in fancy dress on the annual candy haul. But Halloween turned into a nightmare after a truck driver killed eight people in one of New York&#39;s trendiest neighborhoods.

In the wake of what New York&#39;s mayor called a &quot;cowardly act of terror,&quot; children were evacuated from one nearby elementary school with nervous parents after a 29-year-old man mowed down pedestrians and cyclists before smashing into a school bus.

&quot;It was terrible. We&#39;re here every day. This is our route to school, where we walk the dog, go to the supermarket,&quot; said Yvonne Villiguer, 52, whose nine-year-old son is dressed as the Grim Reaper, clutching a scythe.

October 31 normally sees TriBeCa, one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Manhattan home to celebrities, wealthy families, gleaming glass condo buildings and luxury boutiques, revel in Halloween festivities.

But this year, children went door to door, sidestepping police and news crews a stone&#39;s throw away and hours after a 29-year-old terror suspect, identified by American television networks as an Uzbek citizen from Florida, wrought death.

Villiguer&#39;s initial plan was to take her son through the streets for the customary haul of candy. But in the aftermath of the attack, they restricted themselves to the nearby apartment building of some friends.

&quot;This has ruined the holiday,&quot; said nearby 41-year-old doorman Conce Dadd on Warren Street, just steps from the scene of the attack as he opens and closes the door to children dressed as Harry Potter and a sumo wrestler.

&quot;That&#39;s life. It can happen any moment. There&#39;s nothing you can do,&quot; he sighed philosophically. &quot;Only thing you can do is to punish the guy who did it.&quot;

&#39;Super nervous&#39;

Angelica Pinera, a 30-year-old mother in a caramel coat ran after girls aged 10 to 12 dressed up as Alice in Wonderland, Minnie the Mouse and Little Bo Beep.&nbsp;

The street was dark save for the bright lights of police cars and fire trucks. Many were afraid to go out asking for sweets when they heard about the attack, but children&#39;s excitement built up all year won over for others.

&quot;I&#39;m super nervous and sad,&quot; admitted Pinera, outside a primary school that closed its doors for safety.&nbsp;

&quot;It&#39;s the last straw when something like that happens. This day is so special and with the kids near the school, it&#39;s worrisome.&quot;

Ilke Mancov, who lives nearby, said he was very worried about his family when he heard about the attack -&nbsp;while he was at work.

Some hours later, he kept a watchful eye as he stepped with his children -- one Little Red Riding Hood and one Wolf -&nbsp;past the police cordon so they could fill their bags with chocolate and candy.

&quot;We live a block away from where everything happened, so I was very worried,&quot; the father in his 30s told AFP.

&quot;There are a lot of kids because this happened in between two schools,&quot; Mancov said, pointing to an elementary school on one side and a high school on the other.

&quot;It hits home. New York is not the type of place where you can do anything. In fact, it is surprising that it hasn&#39;t happened more often,&quot; he added.

&quot;It&#39;s just how it is. It&#39;s the world we live in. If it had happened an hour later, all the kids would have been coming out of school and it would have been much much worse.&quot;

It was supposed to be a day of fun - trick-or-treating in fancy dress on the annual candy haul. But Halloween turned into a nightmare after a truck driver killed eight people in one of New York's trendiest neighborhoods.

It was supposed to be a day of fun - trick-or-treating in fancy dress on the annual candy haul. But Halloween turned into a nightmare after a truck driver killed eight people in one of New York's trendiest neighborhoods. In the wake of what New York's mayor called a "cowardly act of terror," children were evacuated from one nearby elementary school with nervous parents after a 29-year-old man mowed down pedestrians and cyclists before smashing into a school bus. "It was terrible. We're here every day. This is our route to school, where we walk the dog, go to the supermarket," said Yvonne Villiguer, 52, whose nine-year-old son is dressed as the Grim Reaper, clutching a scythe. October 31 normally sees TriBeCa, one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Manhattan home to celebrities, wealthy families, gleaming glass condo buildings and luxury boutiques, revel in Halloween festivities. But this year, children went door to door, sidestepping police and news crews a stone's throw away and hours after a 29-year-old terror suspect, identified by American television networks as an Uzbek citizen from Florida, wrought death. Villiguer's initial plan was to take her son through the streets for the customary haul of candy. But in the aftermath of the attack, they restricted themselves to the nearby apartment building of some friends. "This has ruined the holiday," said nearby 41-year-old doorman Conce Dadd on Warren Street, just steps from the scene of the attack as he opens and closes the door to children dressed as Harry Potter and a sumo wrestler. "That's life. It can happen any moment. There's nothing you can do," he sighed philosophically. "Only thing you can do is to punish the guy who did it." 'Super nervous' Angelica Pinera, a 30-year-old mother in a caramel coat ran after girls aged 10 to 12 dressed up as Alice in Wonderland, Minnie the Mouse and Little Bo Beep. The street was dark save for the bright lights of police cars and fire trucks. Many were afraid to go out asking for sweets when they heard about the attack, but children's excitement built up all year won over for others. "I'm super nervous and sad," admitted Pinera, outside a primary school that closed its doors for safety. "It's the last straw when something like that happens. This day is so special and with the kids near the school, it's worrisome." Ilke Mancov, who lives nearby, said he was very worried about his family when he heard about the attack - while he was at work. Some hours later, he kept a watchful eye as he stepped with his children -- one Little Red Riding Hood and one Wolf - past the police cordon so they could fill their bags with chocolate and candy. "We live a block away from where everything happened, so I was very worried," the father in his 30s told AFP. "There are a lot of kids because this happened in between two schools," Mancov said, pointing to an elementary school on one side and a high school on the other. "It hits home. New York is not the type of place where you can do anything. In fact, it is surprising that it hasn't happened more often," he added. "It's just how it is. It's the world we live in. If it had happened an hour later, all the kids would have been coming out of school and it would have been much much worse."

New York attack 'ruins' Halloween for nervous families

US President Donald Trump said on Twitter he had ordered the Department of Homeland Security to step up its &quot;extreme vetting program&quot; following a vehicle attack in New York.

&quot;I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!&quot; Trump said, hours after a man driving a pickup truck killed eight people.

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I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/925534445393928199?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Trump ran for office in 2016 pledging to crack down on illegal immigration for security reasons, and has called for &quot;extreme vetting&quot; of foreigners entering the United States.

US President Donald Trump said on Twitter he had ordered the Department of Homeland Security to step up its "extreme vetting program" following a vehicle attack in New York.

US President Donald Trump said on Twitter he had ordered the Department of Homeland Security to step up its "extreme vetting program" following a vehicle attack in New York. "I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!" Trump said, hours after a man driving a pickup truck killed eight people. I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017 × Trump ran for office in 2016 pledging to crack down on illegal immigration for security reasons, and has called for "extreme vetting" of foreigners entering the United States.

New York terror attack: Donald Trump orders stepped up 'extreme vetting'

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