Photo taken with a mobile phone shows police and investigators working at a nearby street after a shooting took place at a subway station in Brooklyn, New York, the United States, on April 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Mocheng)

At least 16 people were injured, including 10 with gunshot wounds, in a subway attack in Brooklyn, New York City, during rush hours Tuesday morning, local authorities said.

"Five of them are in critical but stable conditions" at local hospitals, New York Fire Department First Deputy Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said at a briefing.

Just before 8:24 a.m. local time, as a train pulled into the 36th Street Station in the Sunset Park neighborhood, a man wearing a construction vest and a gas mask opened fire striking multiple people on the train and the nearby platform, according to local police.

Many commuters posted images of bloodshed and smoke in the Brooklyn subway station immediately after the attack.

"There are currently no known explosive devices on our subway trains and this is not being investigated as an act of terrorism at this time," said New York City Police Commissioner Keechnat Sewell, adding that officers had not identified a motive.

The attack triggered a massive law enforcement response to Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighborhood and a manhunt for the suspect.

The police said they were seeking a man with a heavy build who had been wearing a green construction type vest and gray sweatshirt.

Further investigation into the attack is underway.

U.S. President Joe Biden has been briefed on the latest developments regarding the New York City subway shooting, according to the White House.

Press Secretary Jen Psaki tweeted on Tuesday morning that White House senior staff are in touch with New York City officials to offer any assistance as needed.