National
10 dead, 35 injured, suspect killed FBI investigating New Orleans attack as terrorism
NEW ORLEANS — At least ten people have been killed and 35 were injured after a man in a pickup truck, “hell-bent” on creating carnage, intentionally drove into a crowd in the bustling French Quarter district of New Orleans, according to authorities.
The deadly attack, which is being investigated as an act of terrorism, happened on New Orleans’ famed Canal and Bourbon Street within hours of the start of 2025.
New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the suspect went around barricades and was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could on Bourbon Street.
“He was hell-bent on creating the carnage and damage that he did,” Kirkpatrick declared at a Wednesday morning press conference. She added that it seems the majority of the victims are locals and not tourists visiting the city, though they are working to confirm that.
Kirkpatrick said the driver of the pickup truck also fired a gun at officers after he crashed, striking two of them.
In a statement, the New Orleans Police Department later confirmed officers returned gunfire and the suspect was struck and declared dead at the scene.
The police haven’t provided any other details about the suspect.
The FBI, which has taken over the investigation as the lead agency, said the mass casualty incident is being investigated as “an act of terrorism.”
The incident happened at approximately 3:15 a.m. toward the end of New Year’s celebrations in New Orleans and hours before the kickoff of the Allstate Sugar Bowl, a college football playoff quarterfinal held in the city’s Caesars Superdome, with thousands of Georgia and Notre Dame fans expected to be in attendance.
Authorities urging everyone to avoid eight blocks of Bourbon Street as they investigate.
Alethea Duncan, an assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s New Orleans field office, said officials were investigating the discovery of at least one suspected improvised explosive device at the scene.
“A horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street earlier this morning,” Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry posted on X. “Please join Sharon and I in praying for all the victims and first responders on scene. I urge all near the scene to avoid the area.”
