At least 10 people are dead and dozens more have been injured after a man in a white pickup truck drove into a crowd of people on New Year’s Eve on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, early Wednesday morning.
The assailant displayed “very intentional behavior,” driving past barricades as well as shooting into the crowd, according to Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department Anne Kirkpatrick.
Kirkpatrick told reporters at a press conference early Wednesday morning that the attack started at approximately 3:15 a.m. local time. She said the perpetrator was “trying to run over as many people as he possibly could.”
Police also indicated it is unclear at this time how many victims are tourists to the popular celebration destination and how many are New Orleans residents.
Two police officers were also shot in the incident, but their reported condition is stable.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the event as a “terrorist attack.”
This sharply contradicts the statement from FBI special agent Aletha Duncan on behalf of federal investigators. Duncan told reporters explicitly, “This is not a terrorist event.”
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the incident, and the White House has been in contact with Cantrell to offer additional federal support, according to a White House press statement. He will continue to be briefed throughout the day as the situation evolves.
Federal and local law enforcement also said they found a possible explosive device at the scene, which they are still examining to see if it is viable.
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Residents and tourists in New Orleans are advised to avoid the Bourbon Street area as the investigation is ongoing.
Law enforcement also said one of their priorities is to ensure the safety of the city’s Caesars Superdome football arena ahead of the Sugar Bowl college match on Wednesday evening.
