Authorities say that before being killed by police, a man ‘desperate to provoke a massacre’ drove a pickup truck at full speed at people celebrating the New Year in the early hours of Wednesday (01)
A man “desperate to provoke a massacre” drove a pickup truck at full speed into a crowd celebrating the New Year in New Orleans this Wednesday (1st) and left at least 10 dead and 35 injured, before being killed by police. Police said the incident occurred around 3:15 a.m. local time (6:15 a.m. EDT) in the heart of this US city’s famous French Quarter, which was packed with people celebrating the arrival of 2025. “This man, the perpetrator, shot our police officers when he crashed. Two police officers were shot. They are stable,” said police superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick at a press conference, ensuring that the attacker “tried to run over as many people as possible.”
“He was determined to provoke the massacre and the damage he caused,” he added. The FBI, which assumed operational command of the investigations, indicated that the incident is being analyzed as a possible terrorist act and confirmed the death of the attacker. “A man drove a vehicle into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing several people and injuring dozens of others. The man exchanged gunfire with police and is now dead. The FBI is leading the investigation under the hypothesis of a terrorist act,” the federal agency said in a statement.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry described the incident as a “horrific act of violence.” The attack on It came just ten days after a similar attack in the eastern German city of Magdeburg in which five people were killed and more than 200 injured. A suspected improvised explosive device was found at the scene of the incident, the FBI said. “We are working to confirm whether or not this is a viable artifact,” Special Agent Alethea Duncan said at a press conference.
President Joe Biden was informed of the “horrific” attack and called New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell to offer her full support, the White House said. In the early hours of the new year, the area was buzzing with people celebrating in the French Quarter, a neighborhood famous for its bars, restaurants and jazz history. According to reports to CBS, a speeding vehicle struck the crowd shortly before its driver jumped to the ground and began firing a gun as police returned fire. A white pickup truck crashed into a barricade “at high speed.” “As soon as it passed us, we heard gunshots and saw police running in that direction,” Nicole Mowrer told CBS.
“When the shooting stopped, we went out into the street and found many people who had been hit. (We wanted to) see what we could do to help,” he added. New Orleans is one of the most visited destinations in the United States and the incident occurred shortly before the city hosted an important American football game, known as the Sugar Bowl, in which teams from the University of Georgia and Notre Dame participate. According to municipal authorities, surveillance was intense during the New Year, as the city prepared to receive crowds. The local police department announced “100% staffing, with 300 additional officers,” including on horseback and using unpatched units. The iconic French Quarter posted special offers for the New Year, including LGBTQIAPN+ parties and a drag cabaret near where it took place. the incident.
*With information from AFP
Posted by Victor Oliveira
