Topline
At least 10 people were killed in New Orleans’ Bourbon Street early on Wednesday after a vehicle rammed into a crowd in the popular tourist district during New Year’s celebrations, in an incident that is now being investigated as a potential terrorist act.
Emergency services attend the scene on Bourbon Street in New Orleans after a vehicle drove into a … [+]
Key Facts
In an official statement, city authorities said 30 injured people have been transported to nearby hospitals and 10 people are dead.
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said a man drove a pickup truck into the crowd and then opened fire at police.
The suspected attacker is dead after engaging in with local law enforcement, the FBI said in an emailed statement, adding the agency is working with partners “to investigate this as an act of terrorism.”
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said in a press conference the city “was impacted by a terrorist attack,” adding that the matter was still under investigation.
An improvised explosive device was found and investigators are trying to determine if it is viable, said Alethea Duncan, assistant special agent for the FBI’s New Orleans office.
Bourbon Street—located in the city’s French Quarter—is a popular tourist spot where a large number of people had gathered for New Year’s celebrations.
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What Else Do We Know About The Attack?
Kirkpatrick said the man drove his truck into the crowd at around 3:15 a.m. on New Year’s Day. After the crash, the man fired at police officers responding to the scene, police say. Two officers were shot by the attacker, but are in stable condition. Kirkpatrick said the perpetrator acted intentionally and “went around our barricades in order to conduct this.” She added: “He was hell bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.” The FBI will take over the “investigative lead” for the incident, according to Kirkpatrick.
Will The Sugar Bowl Be Affected?
The incident occurred hours before New Orleans hosts the Sugar Bowl college football game between the University of Georgia and the University of Notre Dame, which is expected to draw tens of thousands of fans from across the country. Kirkpatrick said police will “make sure our routes and the Superdome are safe today for the game.” The city also sees an influx of tourists for New Year’s festivities. Kirkpatrick urged visitors to “continue enjoying” the city but urged them to stay away from Bourbon Street. Cantrell also said people should stay “clear of eight blocks around Bourbon Street.”
Crucial Quote
In a statement on X, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry wrote: “A horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street earlier this morning…I urge all near the scene to avoid the area.”
Tangent
President Joe Biden called Cantrell in the morning “to offer full federal support following the horrific news that a driver killed and injured dozens of individuals in New Orleans overnight,” the White House said in a statement. Biden—who is set to travel from his Delaware home to Camp David on Wednesday—has been briefed on the matter by senior FBI and DHS leadership and his homeland security team, and will receive further briefings through the rest of the day, the statement added.
This is a developing story.