Ten killed after man drives vehicle into crowd in New Orleans

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Ten people were killed and 30 injured after a man drove a vehicle into a large crowd in the heart of New Orleans, Louisiana’s biggest city, local officials said on Wednesday.

The attack early on New Year’s Day was described by local authorities as a “mass casualty incident” that occurred at the intersection of Canal Street and Bourbon Street in the centre of the city’s tourist district. The injured were being treated at five hospitals in the area, officials added.

Bourbon Street is one of the main streets in the city’s historic French Quarter, which is filled with bars, restaurants and musical venues, attracting domestic and international visitors.

Anne Kirkpatrick, the superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department, said the attack began around 3.15am local time, when a man drove a pick-up truck down Bourbon Street at a “very fast pace”.

“It was very intentional behaviour. This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could,” Kirkpatrick added. “He was hell bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.”

Kirkpatrick said two police officers had been shot by the driver and were in stable condition.

LaToya Cantrell, the mayor of New Orleans, gave brief remarks to reporters, saying the city had been affected by a “terrorist attack”, without giving further details.

“What I’m asking at this time are prayers for those who lost their lives in the city of New Orleans due to this tragedy,” she said.

The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden had “been briefed on the horrific news”. It added: “The FBI is already on the ground supporting local law enforcement in the investigation and the president will continue to be briefed throughout the day.”

Alethea Duncan, an FBI assistant special agent in New Orleans, told reporters the attack was not a “terrorist event”, but said an improvised explosive device had been found connected to it. The FBI was working to confirm whether the device was “viable”, Duncan said.