The driver of a pickup truck rammed into a crowd of people before getting out and opening fire at police, witnesses have said
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At least 15 people have been killed and dozens more injured after an SUV ran into a crowd celebrating New Year in New Orleans, Louisiana, the city authorities have said.
The incident occurred in the city’s French Quarter at around 3:15 am local time, WGNO said on Wednesday. The area, which has numerous bars and restaurants, is popular with tourists.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry described what happened as “a horrific act of violence,” and urged the public to avoid the area. New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) chief Anne Kirkpatrick told reporters that the attacker drove down Bourbon Street with the “clear intent” of causing ”carnage.”
Dozens of police officers and paramedics have responded to the incident, with authorities now investigating it as “an act of terrorism.”
The attack took place as New Orleans is preparing to host the Sugar Bowl on Wednesday night. The iconic college football game, which has been played in the city annually since 1935, gathers thousands of fans from around the US. This year, the University of Georgia and University of Notre Dame will compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
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02 January 2025
01:18 GMT
President Joe Biden stated that hours before the New Orleans terror attack, the suspect posted videos suggesting he was “inspired” by Islamic State (IS, ISIS) terrorist group.
“The FBI also reported to me that mere hours before the attack, he posted videos on social media indicating that he’s inspired by ISIS, expressing a desire to kill — desire to kill,” Biden said.
The FBI has confirmed that the perpetrator was an American citizen born in Texas, according to Biden. “He served in the United States Army on active duty for many years and also served in the Army Reserve until a few years ago,” he said.
“The ISIS flag was found in his rented vehicle, which he used to conduct this attack. Possible explosives were found in the vehicle as well, and more explosives were discovered nearby,” the US leader added.
- 00:42 GMT
US President Joe Biden has addressed the nation, outlining federal authorities’ efforts to investigate both the New Orleans terrorist attack that left at least 15 dead and the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas.
Biden highlighted the importance of determining whether the two incidents are linked, but cautioned the public against drawing conclusions prematurely, noting that the investigations remain active and evolving.
”We’re tracking the explosion of a cyber truck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. Law enforcement and the intelligence community are investigating this as well, including whether there’s any possible connection with the attack in New Orleans,” the outgoing US president said.
- 00:03 GMT
People initially believed to have planted explosive devices across the French Quarter of New Orleans have been ruled out as suspects by the FBI, NBC reported, citing a senior law enforcement official. Three men and a woman had been identified as potential suspects during initial analysis of surveillance footage, earlier media reports suggested.
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01 January 2025
23:03 GMT
The death toll of the attack has been officially revised to 15, according to a statement by New Orleans Coroner Dwight McKenna.
“As of now, 15 people are deceased. It will take several days to perform all autopsies. Once we complete the autopsies and talk with the next of kin, we will release the identifications of the victims,” the official said.
- 22:05 GMT
US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the “horrific incident” in New Orleans, the White House press service has said in a statement.
“The FBI is taking the lead in the investigation and is investigating this incident as an act of terrorism. I am grateful for the brave and swift response of local law enforcement in preventing even greater death and injury,” the press service quoted Biden as saying.
- 21:46 GMT
The FBI and local police have been “conducting law enforcement activity” in the north of Houston, Texas, in connection with the New Orleans attack, the agency has said in a statement. The FBI refused to provide any further information, citing the “ongoing nature of the investigation.”
- 21:18 GMT
More than one person was likely involved in the attack, Louisiana Rep. Troy Carter has said.
“There is an ongoing investigation which limits our ability to talk much more than that, other than to clearly say that this coward did not act alone, and our resources are on the ground turning over every stone. There will not be a rock big enough for them to hide,” Carter told CNN.
- 20:55 GMT
Potential explosive devices have been recovered in the French Quarter, the FBI has said. The suspected explosives were planted by three men and a woman, surveillance footage indicated, AP reported, citing a Louisiana State Police intelligence bulletin it had obtained.
- 20:45 GMT
New Orleans officials have admitted that the mechanical barricades and bollards that were supposed to block car access on Bourbon Street were not functioning at the moment of the attack. Efforts to block the street through other means failed.
“We knew these were malfunctioning. So we did indeed have a plan, but the terrorist defeated it,” Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick has said.
“This particular terrorist drove around onto the sidewalk and got around the hard target. We did have a car there, we had barriers there, we had officers there, and they still got around,” she added.
- 19:40 GMT
The police do not have a final number of deaths in the incident, Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick has said. Ten deaths have been confirmed, and several people were taken to the hospital in critical condition, she added.
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