A former Daily Liberal employee and her husband have reported themselves as being safe in the wake of a terrifying terrorist attack in New York on Wednesday morning (AEDT).
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Karen and Les Stewart are in the Big Apple visiting their daughter Amy, who now resides in New York.
They have been taking in the sights and sounds that are offered by ‘the city that never sleeps’ but unfortunately their trip of a lifetime will now also be tinged with sadness.
At least eight people were killed when a man drove a ute down a bike path next to the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan, before he jumped out with two fake guns and was shot by police officers.
Federal authorities are treating the incident as a terrorist attack and were taking the lead in the investigation, with two law enforcement officials saying that after the attacker got out of the truck, he was heard yelling, "Allahu Akbar," Arabic for "God is great".
In the aftermath of the attack, which happened at 3.05pm local time, Mrs Stewart posted on social media to let her family and friends know everyone was safe.
“Hi Everyone...just letting you all know that we are all safe and ok. We were not in Lower Manhattan today thank god. Thank you everyone for checking on us,” the post read.
New York mayor Bill de Blasio has described the attack as "a particularly cowardly act of terror" while Governor Andrew Cuomo said it was a "lone wolf" attack.
US President Donald Trump tweeted "we must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!"
Foreign minister Julie Bishop, who is currently acting as Prime Minister, said no Australians had been hurt or killed in the incident.
