NEW YORK (AFP) - A motorist struck several pedestrians taking part in a Black Lives Matter protest in New York City on Friday (Dec 11), police and media reports said.

A spokesman for the New York Police Department told AFP that the vehicle struck "multiple" people in Manhattan's Murray Hill area at 4:08 pm (5am on Saturday, Singapore time).

"An unknown number of people have been injured. They have been taken to various hospitals," he said.

"It is not thought that any of the injuries are life-threatening," the spokesman added.

He said it was "too early to tell" whether it was intentional or a traffic accident.

"The driver stayed at the scene," the spokesman said, adding that the person was in custody.

ABC News said between 40 and 50 protesters were in the area at the time.

The news outlet added that the demonstration had spilled onto the street and that protesters had surrounded a car.

The car then drove into the protesters, injuring at least six of them, ABC reported, noting that a woman was driving and she was being questioned by police.

"Please avoid the area of 3rd Avenue & 39 Avenue in Manhattan due to a vehicle collision involving multiple pedestrians. Information at this time is preliminary, updates to follow," the New York Police Department tweeted.

It was not immediately clear how many people were hit by the vehicle or the extent of their injuries.

It was also not clear whether it was intentional or a traffic accident.

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