A top Taliban leader has claimed responsibility for a shooting rampage outside a US civic center in New York that left fourteen people dead.

"I accept responsibility. They were my men. I gave them orders in reaction to US drone attacks," Pakistani Taliban leader Baituallah Mehsud told a news channel by phone from an undisclosed location.

According to Mehsud, a Pakistani national carried out the attack along with another unidentified man, warning that such attacks would continue.

"Such attacks will continue. It was revenge to US drone attacks (in Pakistan) and brutalities in Palestine," he said.

Apparently, the gunman took around 20 to 40 people hostage before starting the shooting.

According to conflicting television and newspapers reports, several hours after the gunman entered the building, police brought out two men with their hands tied behind their backs.

Figures released by the police indicate that 14 people, including one of the gunmen, were killed during the Friday shooting at the civic association building in Binghamton.

Police say four people are critically wounded and 37 others have been safely escorted out.

This is while the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) ruled out Taliban's role in the shooting, saying that "Based on the evidence, we can firmly discount that claim."

MJ/DT