The pickup drove into the crowd. A driver threw his vehicle at pedestrians on Wednesday, January 1, on busy Bourbon Street, in New Orleans (Louisiana), leaving at least 10 dead and more than 30 injured, including two police officers. The perpetrator of the attack, described as a man “determined to cause carnage”was shot dead, New Orleans police and the FBI announced. Here’s what we know about this car-ramming attack.
A pickup truck rushes into a crowd in a tourist area
The driver of a large white pick-up rammed into the crowd celebrating the New Year, around 3:15 a.m., at the corner of Canal and Bourbon Street, on the edge of the “French Square”, a historic and tourist district of the city, saccording to New Orleans City Hall. This renowned district is home tos restaurants, bars, jazz clubs and many party venues. The driver then opened fire on several people, according to local police.
Witnesses interviewed by CBS said the vehicle drove around security barriers at “high speed”. “Once he passed us, we heard gunshots, we saw the police running in that direction”added one of the witnesses. Another told CNN having seen a vehicle which “hit everyone on the left side of the sidewalk on Bourbon Street”.
This attack left at least 10 dead and 35 injured, according to a press release from New Orleans town hall. The 35 injured were transported to several hospitals. Two police officers were among the injured, said local police chief Anne Kirkpatrick. “The perpetrator shot at our agents from his vehicle. Two of them were hit. Their condition is stable”she said during a press briefing.
A major security system was deployed for the New Year celebrations. On Monday, the New Orleans police announced on its website that all its personnel would be deployed, also mentioning the reinforcement of 300 additional agents. Following this attack, the neighborhood was sealed off.
-Investigators consider it a “terrorist act”
Local police chief Anne Kirkpatrick said the suspect was a “homme”without giving further details. New Orleans police and the FBI announced the death of the suspect after an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement. In its press release, the American federal police explained that it was investigating a “terrorist act”. During the authorities’ press briefing, the mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, mentioned “a terrorist attack”, which the FBI initially denied.
The local police chief also spoke of a man “fiercely determined to cause carnage”who tried “to crush as many people as he could”. There appears to be no doubt about the intentional nature of the attack. American investigators also found a possible homemade explosive device at the scene of the attack. “We are trying to confirm whether or not this is an active and functioning device.”said Alethea Duncan of the FBI during a press briefing. The driver’s motive remains unknown at this stage. Police said the suspect was not “drunk”.
President Joe Biden was ‘briefed’ of the situation
In a message published on the social network “ua horrible act of violence” and called the population “avoid the area”. The senator from Louisiana, Bill Cassidy told him about an event “tragic” on X.
“President Biden was briefed on the terrible news that a driver killed and injured dozens of people in New Orleans. (…) The FBI is already on the ground supporting local law enforcement in the investigation and the President will continue to be briefed throughout the day.”reacted the White House in a press release. In a message published on his network Truth SocialPresident-elect Donald Trump paid tribute to him to “innocent victims” of the attack. “Criminals coming from abroad are much worse than those we have in our country”, he also wrote, while the profile of the suspect is currently unknown.
