A horrifying attack unfolded on New Year's Day as a pickup truck plowed through crowds on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, leaving at least 10 dead and 35 injured. The driver, described as "hell-bent" on causing destruction, was killed in a shootout with police following the rampage. Authorities are investigating the incident as a potential act of terrorism.
The chaos began at approximately 3:15 a.m. local time when the driver bypassed barricades and sped through a three-block stretch of the iconic French Quarter, targeting New Year's revelers. Witnesses reported hearing gunfire as the suspect exited the vehicle wielding an assault rifle and exchanged shots with police. Two officers were among those injured during the confrontation.
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick described the driver's actions as deliberate. It was not a DUI situation," Kirkpatrick said. "This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could. He was hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage he did."
Mayor LaToya Cantrell condemned the attack as a "terrorist act," and the FBI has taken the lead in the investigation. Improvised explosive devices found at the scene were determined to be viable, prompting further sweeps for additional threats across the French Quarter.
ADMIN POST.
At least 10 dead and 30 injured following a terrorist attack on people celebrating New Year's Eve in New Orleans.
A black flag can be seen on the back of the truck used to ram the crowd before the suspect opened fire. pic.twitter.com/cafEMuWpOB — Tommy Robinson (@TRobinsonNewEra) January 1, 2025
The suspect's identity has not yet been released, but investigators are examining whether he recently entered the U.S. and whether there are connections to ISIS or other extremist groups. Attorney General Merrick Garland confirmed that the Justice Department and the FBI's National Security Division are fully engaged. "The country woke up this morning to news of a terrible tragedy," Garland said in a statement. "We will deploy every available resource to conduct this investigation."
Witness accounts from the scene paint a harrowing picture of the devastation. Jimmy Cothran, a New Orleans resident and certified EMT, described the scene as "something out of a movie." From a balcony, Cothran counted at least 10 bodies. ""A little girl that we had seen dancing as we were walking up the street, she was just as a flat as a pillow. It just kept going," he said.
Another witness, Paul S., recounted hearing a series of pops, initially mistaking them for fireworks, followed by the sound of a crash. "What I was was if you can imagine a street with brick and whatnot littered all around the sidewalk, and then there were bodies laid up next to garbage cans and people rushing to give aid," he said.
Despite the carnage, city officials confirmed that the Sugar Bowl, a major college football event, would proceed as scheduled later in the day. The New Orleans Police Department was fully staffed for New Year's Eve and the Sugar Bowl, with an additional 300 officers from partner agencies, city officials stated.
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation and calls for unity. President Joe Biden offered his support to Mayor Cantrell, with the White House confirming that the president was briefed and remains in close contact with local officials.
In the wake of the tragedy, security measures across the country are being scrutinized. Federal agencies had warned law enforcement of the potential for vehicle-ramming attacks during high-profile events, particularly after a similar attack in Germany in December.
