New Orleans health officials said the accident causing mass casualties occurred at the intersection of Canal and Bourbon streets at about 3:15 a.m. on January 1, and authorities were immediately at the scene, CNN reported. .
Police cordoned off the scene of the incident
The car crashed into a crowd celebrating the New Year in a busy neighborhood at night, killing at least 10 people and injuring 30 people who were transported to hospitals in New Orleans. Authorities said the driver shot and injured two police officers after crashing. According to ABC News, the suspect was shot dead when he got out of the car and was carrying an assault rifle.
According to information from the police, the driver who caused the accident tried to hit as many people as possible. “This person drove a pickup truck at a very fast speed and this was an intentional act. Based on initial information, this is not a case of drunk driving, but the case is much more complicated and serious,” Police officer Anne Kirkpatrick said, adding that the suspect tried to drive around the security barrier to commit the crime. CNN quoted a witness who recounted how the New Year’s Eve festival turned into horror when the car crashed into the crowd. “All I saw was a pickup truck hitting people on the left side of the Bourbon Street sidewalk. A body seemed to fly towards me,” this witness said.
Writing on social network terrorism” and will investigate in detail.
However, special agent Althea Duncan, of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), said that this was not a terrorist event. Ms. Duncan informed that a number of homemade explosive devices were found at the scene and the authorities are examining them to determine whether they are usable or not. US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the situation and the White House has contacted the Mayor of New Orleans to offer assistance.
The incident occurred in the city of New Orleans, where the famous football match The Sugar Bowl between universities will take place on the evening of January 1. Police said they have increased security work to protect people in the new year and ensure safety for the above match. Before entering Christmas and welcoming the New Year, federal law enforcement and US intelligence agencies in early December 2024 warned local police to be alert to the risk of car crashes targeting criminals. outdoor events. Less than 2 weeks ago, a similar incident occurred in Germany, when a suspect crashed his car into a Christmas market, killing 5 people and injuring about 200 people.
