New Year's celebrations in New Orleans turned tragic early Wednesday when a vehicle drove into crowds on Bourbon Street, killing 10 people and injuring 30 others, according to city officials.
"A truck came slamming into everyone on the left side of the Bourbon sidewalk," witness Kevin Garcia, 22, told reporters at the scene. "A body came flying at me." Garcia also reported hearing gunshots after the incident.
Inside a nearby nightclub, patrons found themselves in lockdown as chaos erupted outside. "Everyone started screaming and running to the back," said Whit Davis, 22, who was visiting from Shreveport. When finally allowed to leave, Davis described a horrific scene. "I saw bodies they couldn't even cover up yet and many people getting first aid."
NOLA Ready, the city's emergency preparedness agency, confirmed that emergency services transported 30 injured people from the scene. The incident occurred at the intersection of Canal and Bourbon Street in the French Quarter.
"Public safety partners are responding on scene," NOLA Ready stated in an official release. "The 8th District is currently working a mass casualty incident." Officials urged people to avoid the area while emergency response continues.
Law enforcement directed witnesses to leave the scene quickly and put away their phones. The investigation is ongoing.
Medical teams at five New Orleans hospitals are treating 30 people who were injured in the incident.
The injured have been distributed among University Medical Center, Touro Hospital, East Jefferson General Hospital, Ochsner Medical Center Jefferson Campus, and Ochsner Baptist Campus, according to NOLA Ready.
The tragedy struck during heightened holiday celebrations in the French Quarter, where crowds had gathered for an open-air concert and New Year's countdown. The area was particularly busy with visitors for Wednesday's Sugar Bowl game between Georgia and Notre Dame.
The New Orleans Police Department had increased security for the holiday period, with 300 additional officers from partner agencies supplementing their force. Police presence included marked and unmarked vehicles, plus officers on foot, bike, and horseback throughout the French Quarter.
In addition to killing 12 people and injuring 30 others, the driver also shot two police officers, who are now in stable condition.
What We Know:
- The attack happened hours before the Sugar Bowl college football game
- Most victims appear to be local residents, not tourists
- FBI has taken over the investigation
- Possible explosive devices found at the scene
- The driver intentionally bypassed police barricades
Latest Updates
"This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could," New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said at a morning briefing. She emphasized this was "not a DUI situation" but something "more complex and more serious."
The FBI is currently examining possible improvised explosive devices found at the scene. "We are working on confirming if it's a viable device or not," said FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alethea Duncan.
Conflicting Information
There's some confusion over the nature of the attack. While Mayor LaToya Cantrell initially called it a "terrorist attack," the FBI quickly contradicted this statement, saying, "This is not a terrorist event." The reason for this discrepancy remains unclear.
Police Response
Over 300 officers were deployed in the area when the attack occurred. Law enforcement is using robots to examine the vehicle, according to local news footage from WDSU.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has called the incident a "horrific act of violence" and requested prayers for victims and first responders.
THE DRIVER IS DEAD:
According to ABC News, citing law enforcement sources, the driver who plowed through crowds in New Orleans opened fire multiple times during the attack before being fatally shot by police.
The investigation has been transferred to the FBI. Agent Alethea Duncan said they are investigating an "improvised explosive device" found at the scene. She added that "this is not a terrorist event." The FBI is currently examining the suspected explosive device to determine if it's viable.
Two Israelis Injured during Attack
Houston consulate officials are coordinating with local hospitals after a vehicle ramming and shooting incident injured two Israeli citizens in New Orleans' French Quarter. A consular representative is heading to New Orleans under Foreign Minister Sa'ar's direction.
CNN contributed to this article.
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