NEW ORLEANS, United States: At least 10 people were killed and 30 injured on Wednesday when a vehicle plowed into a New Year’s crowd in the heart of New Orleans’ bustling tourist district, authorities in the southern US city said. Some reports said that the driver of the vehicle, believed to be a pickup truck, also fired at the crowd.
LaToya Cantrell, the mayor of New Orleans, described the incident as a “terrorist attack.” Anne Kirkpatrick, superintendent of police, said the driver had attempted to kill as many people as possible. She said he exited the vehicle and fired on police, ABC News reported.
Officials said a crowd was celebrating when the pickup truck drove into it at high speed at the intersection of Canal and Bourbon Street in a part of the city known as the French Quarter. Witnesses also reported seeing police firing at the driver after the attack.
The strike appeared to be intentional, police told ABC News, adding the driver had not been taken into custody.
“The 8th District is currently working a mass casualty incident involving a vehicle that drove into a large crowd on Canal and Bourbon Street. There are 30 injured patients… and 10 fatalities,” NOLA Ready, the New Orleans emergency preparedness program, said in a statement.
Emergency authorities said the incident took place at approximately 3:15 am (0915 GMT).
At that hour, the area would been packed with revellers celebrating New Year in the French Quarter district, renowned for its bars, restaurants and jazz history.
CBS News television reported witnesses saying a truck rammed into the crowd before its driver jumped out and started exchanging gunshots with police.
A white truck crashed through a barricade “at a high rate of speed,” witnesses Jim and Nicole Mowrer told CBS.
“Once it was past us, we did hear gunfire, saw police running that direction,” Nicole Mowrer said.
“Once the gunfire stopped, we stayed in the alcove until the gunfire stopped, came out into the street, and came across a lot of — several people who had been hit, (we) wanted to see what we could do to help.
Authorities gave no immediate indication as to whether the car ramming was deliberate or any other indication as to the cause.
New Orleans is one of the most heavily visited destinations in the United States and the incident came shortly before the city hosts a major football game, known as the Sugar Bowl, featuring teams from the University of Georgia and Notre Dame.
Policing was heavy over the New Year’s, according to the city, as authorities braced for the crowds.
The city police department had announced staffing at “100 percent, with an additional 300 officers assisting from partner law enforcement agencies,” including on horseback and using unmarked units.
The incident comes days after five people were killed in a similar car-ramming attack in Germany. More than 200 people were also injured in the December 20 attack in the eastern city of Magdeburg. The attacker has been arrested and police are investigating whether he is mentally ill.
