New Orleans mayor says New Years incident is being treated as a ‘terrorist attack’ after at least 10 people are killed
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has shared a statement stating that the New Year’s incident on Bourbon Street is being treated as a terrorist attack.
At around 3AM on New Year’s Day, a pickup truck drove into a crowd in New Orleans’ French Quarter, plowing into revelers celebrating the New Year.
New Orleans’ emergency preparedness agency, NOLA, confirmed it is dealing with a mass casualty incident in the Bourbon Street area, which took place at around 3AM local time.
NOLA said in a statement: “The 8th District is currently working a mass casualty incident involving a vehicle that drove into a large crowd on Canal and Bourbon Street.
“Public safety partners are responding on scene.”
While the exact details of the incident remain under investigation, she confirmed she had been in contact with the White House and Louisiana’s governor.
She asked “for prayers for those who have lost their lives”, and told the public to avoid eight blocks around Bourbon Street where the incident took place.
Police superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick confirmed that 35 people were known to have been taken to local hospitals, though that number is expected to rise.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell said the incident was being treated as a “terrorist attack”. Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE
She also revealed that the man had fired on officers, injuring two of them who are in stable condition, and added that most of the casualties appeared to be locals rather than tourists.
Police described the incident as “intentional behavior” rather than a DUI incident, and another officer said that an improvised explosive device had also been found.
Witnesses claimed to CBS News that a truck had crashed into the crowd at high speed before the driver got out and started firing a weapon, prompting police to return fire.
Bourbon Street is a popular destination with tourists and locals alike, Credit: John Coletti/Getty Images
In footage shared online from the scene, gunfire can be heard in the background as members of the public ran from the area.
The injured have been transported to hospitals nearby, with officials warning that the death toll could potentially rise.
