New York attack: 'Hero' policeman praised after running towards suspect and shooting him in stomach

Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city 'owes him a debt of gratitude'

New York Police officer Ryan Nash has been dubbed the "hero cop" by Mayor Bill de Blasio for taking down terror attack suspect Sayfullo Saipov.

Mr Nash, 28, was out on a routine patrol when Mr Saipov was said to have crashed a pick up truck into a school bus in lower Manhattan after allegedly killing eight people who were on a bike path adjacent to the West Side Highway and injuring a dozen more.

The suspect exited the rented Home Depot pickup truck and per eyewitness reports shouted "Allahu Akbar," or "God is great" in Arabic, while brandishing what looked like two guns.

The weapons were determined later to be a paintball and pellet gun.

Mr Saipov ran, as video footage shows. Mr Nash gave chase and ultimately "confronted the subject and shot him in the abdomen," according to NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill.

Mr Nash was taken to nearby Bellevue Hospital and treated for ringing in his ears but had no other injuries.

"He's so humble...thought it was all in a day's work," said Mayor Bill de Blasio at a press conference, adding that Mr Nash "deserves all the accolades" from the city.

Mr de Blasio said had Mr Nash not stopped Mr Saipov when he did was crucial because "you don't know if the shooter had multiple weapons or a bomb. You don't know. We owe him a debt of gratitude."

In a press conference immediately following the terror attack, Mr de Blasio said Mr Nash's bravery "gave people such faith and such appreciation in our police force."

Mr O'Neill said after speaking with Mr Nash at the hospital, the officer does not consider what he did "an act of heroism, but why he joined" the force five years ago.

The Long Island resident and his partner were responding to a call about a vehicle accident near Stuyvesant High School when they "showed great courage," Mr O'Neill said.

"I'm really proud of him," the Commissioner said.

Former police commissioner Bill Bratton tweeted that Mr Nash was "truly one of New York's finest."

The First Precinct officer was one of four responding to the call that afternoon around 3 pm local time.

After rushing to the scene Mr Nash, the closest officer, fired nine times from his department-issued service gun.

According to the New York Times, a civilian approached Mr Saipov after he fell to the ground and kicked away the two weapons.

Mr Saipov remains in stable condition at the hospital and CNN reported he was speaking with police ahead of his surgery.

The FBI counterterrorism force has taken the lead on the investigation and are continuning to search the suspect's home in Paterson, New Jersey where he resides with his wife and children.

They are also investigating his supposed ties to the nearby Omar Mosque.

Six of the victims were dead on the scene, two died in the hospital, including a group of Argentinians in the city to celebrate their 30th high school reunion and at least one Belgian citizen.

Twelve victims remain in hospital, four in critical but stable condition and at least one undergoing an amputation, per Mr O'Neill.