Officials said that the terrorist has not been identified. He drove his white pickup truck into the crowd, got out and fired at the police, killing him. Two policemen were injured.
A speeding truck crushed a crowd of people celebrating New Year in New Orleans, America. 10 people died and 35 were injured in this incident. The attacker has been killed. The FBI has started investigating it, terming it a terrorist attack. President Joe Biden has expressed grief and said that the FBI is investigating this as a terrorist incident. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the early morning attack on iconic Bourbon Street as a “terrorist attack.”
Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said the attackers were intent on genocide in carrying out the attack. Officials said the terrorist has not been identified. He drove his white pickup truck into the crowd, got out and fired at the police, killing him. Two policemen were injured. Reports said a crude bomb was found nearby. Police reportedly destroyed some suspicious packets. The Federal Bureau of Investigation took over the investigation to ensure there were no other bombs.
The attack occurred just hours before the Sugar Bowl was scheduled to take place. The Sugar Bowl is an annual college football game that draws large crowds and a large television audience on New Year’s Day. This has increased the fear further. Bourbon Street is one of the places in America where large-scale New Year’s celebrations are held and is famous for the annual Mardi Gras parade. The terrorist attack comes in the final days of President Joe Biden’s administration and three weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
The White House said senior FBI and Department of Homeland Security officials have informed Biden about the incident. The President has telephoned Mayor Cantrell and assured him of full federal support. He said in a statement that the FBI is leading the investigation into this horrific incident and is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism. Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies are working hard to get to the bottom of this incident as quickly as possible. I express my condolences to the victims and their families, who were simply trying to celebrate the holiday. There is no justification for any kind of violence and we will not tolerate any attack on any community in our country.
At the same time, New Year celebrations took place at other places in America without any untoward incident. Under heavy security and drenched in unseasonal rain, millions of people, including locals and tourists, enjoyed the world’s biggest celebration at the New Year ball drop in New York’s Times Square. Apart from New York, the New Year was also welcomed with much fanfare in other places including Washington, Chicago.
