New Year’s celebrations in New Orleans were marred by tragedy as a driver deliberately plowed a truck into a crowded area on Bourbon Street, resulting in the deaths of at least ten individuals and injuring 35 others.
The incident unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday morning, just hours after the city rang in the New Year.
According to a statement from the FBI, the suspect engaged with local law enforcement before being shot and killed by police. An FBI spokesperson confirmed that the bureau is leading the investigation and treating the incident as an act of terrorism. \
“The subject then engaged with local law enforcement and is now deceased,” the statement read.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the attack as a “terrorist assault,” emphasizing the intentional nature of the act. Local police chief Anne Kirkpatrick also clarified that it was not a case of driving under the influence, stating, “This was intentional.”
The suspect drove a white truck, emblazoned with a black flag, through barricades at the intersection of Bourbon and Canal streets before exiting the vehicle and opening fire on responding officers. Eyewitness accounts and photographs from the scene depict chaos and horror as revelers tried to flee the scene.
As authorities continue to investigate, they are looking into possibly improvised explosives found at the site, adding to the urgency of the situation.
