NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A suspect who drove a vehicle into a crowd of revelers in New Orleans on New Year's Day was killed following a firefight with police, law enforcement officials told the Associated Press.
The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to disclose details publicly, confirmed the incident left 10 people dead and 30 others injured. The crash occurred at 3:15 a.m. on Bourbon Street in the city’s bustling French Quarter, a popular destination for New Year’s celebrations.
The area was packed with partygoers celebrating both the holiday and the upcoming Sugar Bowl college football playoff game at the nearby Superdome.
In a statement, the FBI announced it was leading the investigation and described the event as a potential act of terrorism. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell labeled the attack as a “terrorist act” during a news conference, and Police Chief Michael Harrison emphasized that the act was deliberate.
FBI Assistant Special Agent Alethea Duncan revealed that at least one suspected improvised explosive device (IED) was found at the scene, further intensifying the investigation.
Whit Davis, a 22-year-old witness, told CNN he was leaving a nightclub when the chaos erupted.
“Everyone started yelling and screaming and running to the back,” Davis said. “We went into lockdown for a while, and then they wouldn’t let us leave. When we finally got out, police were waving us out of the area quickly. I saw a few uncovered bodies and a lot of people getting first aid.”
Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick assured the public that officers would work to ensure safety at the Sugar Bowl, which is set to proceed as planned.
“This individual was hell-bent on creating the carnage and damage that he inflicted,” Kirkpatrick said.
"This was very intentional behavior. This individual was attempting to run over as many people as possible," Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick said.
She added that two police officers who were shot after the driver exited the vehicle are in stable condition.
Officials have not yet provided updates on the driver’s status, whether there remains any ongoing threat to the public, or the suspected motive behind the fatal attack.
NOLA Ready, the city’s emergency preparedness agency, reported that the injured victims had been transported to five local hospitals for treatment.
The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden has been briefed on the incident. The Justice Department also stated that Attorney General Merrick Garland has been informed about the attack.
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