The Islamic State (ISIS) jihadist group on Thursday night claimed in its weekly newsletter that it was responsible for the terrorist attack in Manhattan earlier this week.
The group did not, however, provide any evidence to back its claim.
Tuesday's attack was carried out by Sayfullo Saipov, a 29-year-old Uzbek national who was living in New Jersey.
Saipov rammed a rented truck onto a well-trafficked bike path just blocks from the World Trade Center on Tuesday afternoon, killing eight and injuring more than a dozen before crashing into a school bus. He then left the vehicle brandishing imitation firearms and was shot by police, survived and was taken into custody.
A note written in Arabic praising ISIS was found inside the truck used by Saipov to commit the ramming attack. The note read: "ISIS lives forever."
He also told investigators he was inspired by ISIS videos he had watched on his cellphone, chose Halloween for the attack because he believed more people would be on the streets, and had originally planned to strike the Brooklyn Bridge as well as the bike path.
Saipov was charged with federal terrorism offenses on Wednesday, including providing material support to ISIS, as well as with violence and destruction of motor vehicles.