The Daily Star Ireland
A man with the intent to cause widespread harm drove a pickup truck at high speed into a crowd of New Year’s Eve revelers in New Orleans, resulting in the deaths of at least ten people and injuring over 35 others.
The incident occurred around 3:15am local time in the city’s bustling French Quarter, filled with people celebrating the arrival of 2025. “This individual was attempting to run over as many people as he possibly could,” Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick stated.
She added that the driver, who also shot at police officers and injured two of them, was determined to inflict as much damage as possible. The driver’s current status and location were not immediately known. Although not classified as a terror attack, Superintendent Kirkpatrick noted that the truck was driven at very high speed in a deliberate manner.
The FBI will take operational command of the investigation. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry called the incident a “horrific act of violence.” Witnesses reported to CBS News that the truck plowed into the crowd before the driver exited and began exchanging gunfire with police.
A white truck broke through a barricade at high speed, as described by witnesses Jim and Nicole Mowrer to CBS.
“After it passed us, we heard gunfire and saw police running towards it,” Nicole Mowrer said. “When the gunfire stopped, we stayed in the alcove until it was safe, then came out and saw several people who had been hit and tried to assist them.”
New Orleans, a top tourist destination in the United States, experienced the incident just before hosting a major football event, the Sugar Bowl, featuring teams from the University of Georgia and Notre Dame.
The city had heightened policing during New Year’s celebrations in anticipation of large crowds.
