New York attack: Police search terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov's New Jersey home

He lived in Paterson with his wife and children

Police and FBI agents have swarmed Paterson, New Jersey where the suspect in the New York attack Sayfullo Saipov lived prior to allegedly killing eight people with a truck and injuring several more before being shot by police.

Mr Saipov, who is actually from Tampa, Florida, remains in police custody in the hospital.

The 29-year-old Uzbek national was living in the suburban town with his wife and two children in an apartment building.

He came to the US in 2010, according to NBC News.

The New York FBI terrorist task force and local police surround the suspect’s home just a few blocks from the Omar Mosque, where Mr Saipov reportedly attended prayers.

Mahmoud Attallah, a former spokesman for the mosque, told a local news site that he was saddened by the loss of innocent lives but also worried about backlash against his community as a result of the attack.

“I was so upset with this situation, these innocent people...Every time we think this is over, and now this, and there is this guy from Uzbekistan, and he’s not even Arabic,” said Mr Atallah.

The search of the apartment building, stores, and other buildings continued well into the night.

It is unclear at this time if Mr Saipov’s wife and children were at home at the time of the search but CNN reported the wife is "providing information" to authorities.

According to the apartment building manager, the family moved into their two-bedroom apartment less than a year ago.

Paterson Councilman Alex Mendez told NJ.com that though he was “very concerned” the suspect lived in his community, the Halloween holiday attack appeared to be an “isolated incident”.

"We have 52 nationalities. They're hardworking people that come to Paterson to start a better life," Mr Mendez said.

Neighbours told the news site that Mr Saipov and his family appeared to have friends living nearby and that he drove a white Toyota Sienna with Florida license plates.

However, at least one neighbour said the alleged truck driver - who also worked as an Uber driver - was not friendly.

“Never says good morning and never says good afternoon,” the man said of Mr Saipov.

The Toyota vehicle was found in the parking lot of a Passaic, New Jersey Home Depot, a national chain of home improvement stores.

A bomb squad and helicopters circling overhead were also at the scene in Passaic.

Mr Saipov allegedly rented the truck used in the terror attack from that Home Depot location, which is cooperating with authorities.

The suspect drove the truck south on a bike path adjacent to the West Side Highway from Houston Street to Chambers Street - approximately 20 city blocks - before crashing into a school bus with two adults and two children inside.

He allegedly ran over several people, with eight left dead, including a group of Argentinians in the city to celebrate their 30th high school reunion and at least one Belgian citizen.

Mr Saipov reportedly exited the vehicle, at that point located close the September 11th memorial and Stuyvesant High School, carrying a paintball gun and another imitation weapon. He was then shot in the abdomen by a police officer.

He reportedly had been able to speak to authorities ahead of a surgery at a local hospital, where he remains in stable condition.