Ten people have been killed and 30 others injured after a vehicle drove into a large crowd on Canal and Bourbon Street in the French Quarter in New Orleans on the New Year.
The injured, mostly local residents, have been rushed to various area hospitals, the leader of the New Orleans Police Department Anne Kirkpatrick said.
The incident comes at a time when people were celebrating New Year’s Eve on Bourbon Street, which is famous for its nightlife. Several groups of people had gathered to attend an open-air concert and New Year’s countdown.
“The NOPD responded to a fatal traffic crash that occurred during the early hours today (January 1, 2024) at the intersection of Bourbon and Canal streets that has resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries, including the suspected perpetrator,” the New Orleans Police Department said in a statement.
#NOPD responds to deadly vehicle crash that occurred in the early hours today on Bourbon Street involving multiple fatalities & injuries. Suspect declared deceased on scene. @FBINewOrleans leading investigation. MORE INFO: https://t.co/EigDVzLaUe pic.twitter.com/uFDiaci7PY
— New Orleans Police Department (@NOPDNews) January 1, 2025
The police said that the incident happened at around 3:17 am when the vehicle was driven into a crowd of pedestrians on Bourbon Street, striking several people before crashing.
The accused also opened fire on New Orleans police officers, striking two who are in stable condition.
“After the vehicle came to a stop, the suspect reportedly opened fire on responding officers, who returned fire. The victim was struck and subsequently declared deceased on scene. Further information on the suspect is not currently available for release,” the statement said.
“Two NOPD officers were struck and injured in the exchange. Both were transported via EMS to a local hospital and were last listed in stable condition,” it added.
Meanwhile, the suspect in the attack is dead, CNN quoted a federal law enforcement official as saying. Officials have said that the person driving the vehicle through a crowd did not do so accidentally, adding that driver was traveling “at a very fast pace”.
The police and FBI are searching the vehicle to ascertain the motive behind the incident. New Orleans Police has also urged people to avoid Bourbon Street north from Canal to Dumaine Streets as the investigation is ongoing.
Though New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has called the tragic incident a “terrorist attack,” FBI Assistant Special Agent Alethea Duncan denied it saying, “this is not a terrorist event.”
