At least 10 dead when truck crashes into New Orleans New Year’s crowd | In the images of the News
A deadly car attack in New Orleans brought chaos and grief to the Louisiana city’s New Year’s Eve celebration, with authorities investigating the incident as an “act of terrorism.”
At least 10 people were killed when a Ford pickup plowed into early morning traffic on Bourbon Street, in the heart of the French Quarter, one of the most touristy areas of the United States city.
An additional 35 people were injured in Wednesday’s attack, which officials quickly concluded was not an accident.
The truck eventually crashed, and the driver fired at law enforcement while trying to escape. Two policemen suffered bullet wounds and the suspect was killed in the exchange.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) later identified the suspect as 42-year-old American citizen Shamsud-Din Jabbar from the neighboring state of Texas.
At an afternoon news conference, Alethea Duncan, assistant special agent for the FBI’s New Orleans field office, said Jabbar was not believed to be “solely responsible” for the attack and appealed to the public for more information.
Investigators said they discovered what appeared to be an explosive device in his vehicle, as well as a flag associated with the armed group ISIL (ISIS).
The carnage on Bourbon Street prompted an outpouring of condolences from US leaders, including outgoing President Joe Biden and his successor, President-elect Donald Trump, who is set to take office on January 20.
“My heart goes out to the victims and their families who were simply trying to celebrate the holiday,” Biden wrote in a statement. “There is no justification for violence of any kind and we will not tolerate any attack on any community in our nation.”
Located on the banks of the Mississippi River, New Orleans is the center of Cajun culture in the US, boasting a mix of French, African and indigenous influences.
The city’s French Quarter is a beacon for tourists looking to enjoy New Orleans-style jazz, booze and entertainment. The city brings in billions income from tourism every year.
An investigation into the car crash is ongoing, with the FBI taking the lead in the investigation. The motif has not been published yet.
But New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick emphasized that the attack was “very deliberate.”
“This is not just a terrorist act. This is evil,” she said at the afternoon press conference. “And when faced with evil, we have a choice.”
“I promise you, as the police chief of this city, this city has been tried by fire before. But fire purifies. Fire makes things stronger.”
