“He was fiercely determined to cause carnage,” she insisted.
At least ten people were killed and 35 injured, according to local authorities.
Ram car on a Christmas market in Magdeburg: signs of psychiatric disorders of the suspect
President Joe Biden, who leaves office on January 20, is being kept informed of the situation, the White House said, calling it a “horrific” attack.
It took place in this “French Quarter” which never sleeps all year round, especially on New Year’s Eve, between Canal and Bourbon Street.
Renowned for its restaurants, bars and jazz clubs, this district, which has the feel of a small French colonial town, also hosts cabarets as well as places welcoming people from the LGBT community.
After local police initially ruled out terrorism, the FBI said on its X account that it was treating the attack as a “terrorist act.”
Jeff Landry, the governor of Louisiana, denounced “an act of atrocious violence” and announced that the families of the victims could go to a medical center designated as a rallying point to be informed as quickly as possible.
Jim Mowrer, a witness, told CBS News that the vehicle drove into the crowd at “high speed” before its driver got out and opened fire, provoking a response from the police.
Two officers were injured according to the latter.
-“We were in the middle of the street, we ran to the sidewalk and we took refuge in the entrance of a building,” said Mr. Mowrer.
Crowds in the streets
“Once it (the vehicle) passed us, we heard gunshots, we saw the police running in that direction,” according to this witness.
“When the shooting stopped, we (…) went out into the street and we saw a lot of people affected; we wanted to see what we could do to help them”, but some had “unfortunately died” , he said.
An FBI official told the press that the authorities had found a possible homemade explosive device on site, which we do not know if it was in working order.
New Orleans is one of the most visited destinations in the United States. The attack occurred shortly before the city hosted a major American football game, the Sugar Bowl, between the University of Georgia and Notre Dame teams.
Police officer killed in vehicular attack in New Zealand
According to the municipality, the number of law enforcement officers had been increased during the New Year period in anticipation of a large crowd in the streets.
The city’s police department had announced “full strength, aided by 300 additional officers from partner law enforcement agencies”, including on horseback or patrolling in unmarked units.
On December 20 in Magdeburg (Germany), a Saudi doctor who arrived in the country in 2006, mowed down the crowd gathered in a Christmas market aboard a powerful BMW vehicle at full speed, killing five people and injuring more than 200 people. .
