On New Year’s morning, just hours before the Sugar Bowl college football game, a vehicle rammed into the bustling Bourbon Street in New Orleans, claiming 10 lives and leaving 33 people injured.
The FBI has classified this incident as an act of terrorism and is conducting a thorough investigation, according to the AP.
FBI officials reported that around 3:15 AM, the suspect drove down Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, a popular tourist destination in New Orleans. The assailant was later killed in a shootout with police.
The AP reported that law enforcement is meticulously searching the French Quarter, considering the possibility that the suspect may have planted explosives in addition to the vehicle attack.
An FBI investigator confirmed that officers are searching at least one area in the vicinity of the scene due to concerns about potential hidden explosives.
During a press conference, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the incident as a “terrorist attack,” while the city’s police chief stated that it was a premeditated crime, characterizing the actions as a massacre.
Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick stressed that the incident was a highly deliberate act, noting that the perpetrator aimed to hit as many individuals as possible with his vehicle.
Police reports indicate that when the vehicle stopped, the suspect got out of the car and fired at the officers. Law enforcement fired back, resulting in the suspect’s death.
On the night of the incident, Bourbon Street was crowded with tourists anticipating the Sugar Bowl playoff game between the University of Georgia and the University of Notre Dame at the nearby Caesars Superdome. Despite the tragic events, officials have confirmed that the Sugar Bowl game will proceed as scheduled.
