A man “obsessed with carnage” drove a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year’s revelers in New Orleans on Wednesday, killing at least 10 people and injuring at least 30. Done.
The incident happened at 3:15 a.m. (0915 GMT) in the heart of the city’s famous French Quarter, which was packed with people celebrating the arrival of 2025, police said.
“This guy was trying to run as many people as possible,” Police Superintendent Ann Kirkpatrick told reporters.
“He was bent on causing carnage and harm,” Kirkpatrick said, adding that the driver had opened fire on police officers, injuring two of them.
The driver’s condition and whereabouts were not immediately known.
Investigators also found a suspected improvised explosive device at the scene of a fatal truck crash in New Orleans, the FBI said Wednesday.
“We are working to confirm whether or not this is a viable device,” Special Agent Alethea Duncan told a news conference after the attack.
Although the incident is not being treated as a terrorist attack, Kirkpatrick said the truck was driven “at a very high rate of speed” and “very deliberately”.
He added that the FBI will take operational command of the investigation.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry called the incident a ‘horrific act of violence’.
In the early hours of New Year’s Eve, the area will be full of revelers in the French Quarter, a district known for its bars, restaurants and jazz history.
CBS News Witnesses reported seeing the truck plow into the crowd before its driver jumped out and exchanged gunfire with police.
Witnesses Jim and Nicole Maurer said a white truck crashed into a barricade “at a high rate of speed.” CBS.
“Once it passed us, we heard gunshots, saw the police running over,” Nicole Mowerer said.
“Once the shooting stopped, we stayed in the alcove until the shooting stopped, went out into the street, and met a lot of people who had been killed, (we) wanted to see that.” What can we do to help?” he added.
New Orleans is one of the most visited places in the United States and the incident occurred shortly before the city hosted a major football game, known as the Sugar Bowl, between the University of Georgia and Teams from Notre Dame were involved.
Policing was heavy on New Year’s Eve, as authorities deterred large crowds, according to the city.
The city police department had announced “100% staffing, including 300 additional officers with support from partner law enforcement agencies”, including the use of mounted and unmarked units.