At least 10 people were killed and 35 others injured after a truck drove into a crowd during New Year’s celebrations in New Orleans early Wednesday (January 1) morning, city officials confirmed via ABC News.
The situation was described as a “mass casualty incident involving a vehicle that drove into a large crowd on Canal and Bourbon Street” by the City of New Orleans, which confirmed the casualty total, in a statement on its website.
“There are 30 injured patients that have been transported by NOEMS and 10 fatalities,” the city said, using an acronym for the New Orleans Emergency Medical Services, via ABC News.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the incident as a “terrorist attack” during a press conference, though the FBI said it wasn’t yet using that term Wednesday morning, according to ABC News. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the driver intended to kill as many people as possible during the incident.
“This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could. It was not a DUI situation,” Kirkpatrick said via NBC News.
Local authorities asked the FBI for assistance during the ongoing investigation. A command center was being set up early Wednesday morning and the FBI told ABC News that it would lead the investigation.
“A horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street earlier this morning,” Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said, adding that his family was praying for the victims and first responders, via ABC News.
The vehicle was reported to have driven into a large crowd on Canal and Bourbon Streets at around 3:15 a.m. local time, according to WGNO. Two officers were reportedly shot during the incident but listed to be in stable condition.
The suspect is suspected to be dead, a federal law enforcement official told NBC News.
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