The suspect, who was “intended to cause carnage”, plowed his truck into a crowd south of the US city of New Orleans on New Year’s Day, killing 10 and injuring 30, officials said.
Although the driver has not been publicly identified by the authorities at this time, the police said that he “intended to cause carnage”, the FBI – which took the command of the investigation, said that an explosive device was found. scene.
However, Law officials told the The Associated Press that the suspect was killed after a fire broke out with the police.
What happened in New Orleans?
In the early hours of New Year’s Day, a van drove in at high speed at the intersection of Canal Street and Bourbon Street in the part of New Orleans’ tourist district known as the French Quarter, media reported that the driver later fired a shot.
Emergency crews responded to the scene on Bourbon Street after a car plowed into a crowd at New Orleans’ Canal and Bourbon Street, Wednesday Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
“The 8th District is currently dealing with a fatal incident involving a car that hit a large crowd on Canal and Bourbon Street. There are 30 injured patients transported by NOEMS and 10 deaths. Our public safety partners are responding to the scene,” New Orleans disaster preparedness agency Nola Ready said in a statement on its website.
The mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, said that the city was “attacked by terrorists” and that the incident was still being investigated, according to the report. CNN.
Who is the suspect?
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick, speaking at a press conference Wednesday morning, described the attack as intentional and malicious. “It was very deliberate behavior. This man was trying to run over as many people as possible. He was determined to cause the killing of people and the damage he did,” he said.
Both CBS News again CNN they reported that the eyewitnesses said that the driver also fired a gun during the incident.
Alethea Duncan, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s New Orleans office, said authorities are investigating the discovery of one suspected explosive device that was not at the scene.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell made a statement after a car plowed into a crowd at New Orleans’ Canal and Bourbon Street, Wednesday Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Officials advised the public to avoid the area from Bourbon Street to St. “We don’t want anyone on Bourbon Street today,” said police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick, adding that the FBI has taken over the investigation.
Kirkpatrick also reported that two officers were shot and are in stable condition at a local hospital. No information about the suspect has been provided. He mentioned that most of the injured are believed to be local residents and not tourists.
Responsiveness and comfort
“A horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street this morning. Please join me and Sharon in praying for all the victims and first responders to the scene. I urge everyone near the scene to avoid the area,” Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry told X.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell called the incident a “terrorist attack.” Meanwhile, the FBI said “this is not a terrorist incident”.
US President Joe Biden has been informed of the incident, the White House said in a statement. It added that the president had been in contact with the mayor of New Orleans.
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