LONDON, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday said that she is "appalled by this cowardly attack" in New York City (NYC), in which eight people were killed in the truck-involved incident.

"My thoughts are with all affected," she said. "Together we will defeat the evil of terrorism" and the "UK stands with NYC".

A man driving a rental truck struck and killed eight people and injured more than dozens of others on a jogging and bike path Tuesday afternoon. NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio said, "This was an act of terror."

The sprawling crime scene runs about 10 blocks along the West Side Highway, a few blocks away from One World Trade in lower Manhattan, the downtown NYC.

A suspect is in custody and was identified as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov of Tampa in the U.S. state of Florida, reports said.