NFL-Law enforcement ready for New Orleans Super Bowl after attack, official says By Reuters
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Law enforcement officials are poised to secure next month’s Super Bowl in New Orleans, the NFL’s top federal coordinator said on Tuesday, after a New Year’s Eve attack in the city left 14 dead and dozens injured. .
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Texas native who supported Islamic State, drove his pickup truck into a crowd on famed Bourbon Street early on January 1 before being shot dead by police.
Tens of thousands of football fans will flock to the city next month, with the Super Bowl on February 9, capping off a week-long celebration in one of the United States’ most popular tourist destinations.
“In the face of adversity, New Orleans has always risen to the occasion,” Eric DeLaune, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans, said in a statement.
“I am more committed than ever to ensuring that HSI, along with our law enforcement partners at all levels, is ready to protect Super Bowl LIX attendees and the public.”
Homeland Security Investigations named DeLaune, a native of New Orleans, the lead federal coordinator for Tuesday’s 59th NFL championship game, a role in which he will coordinate local, state and federal agencies.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Department of Homeland Security warned of potential copycat attacks this week, with President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration scheduled for January 20.
“Make no mistake, this great city — truly unlike any other — is a city defined by resilience and determination, and we’re ready to show the world that we can deliver a safe and secure Super Bowl experience,” DeLaune said.
