There was a ‘terrorist attack’ on a crowd of people celebrating New Year in New Orleans, America. Officials said that the attacker bent on genocide turned his vehicle towards the crowd and drove away, mowing down the people. 10 people died and 35 were injured in the attack. The city’s 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 that the terrorist has not been identified. He drove his white pickup truck into the crowd, got out and fired at the police, after which the police killed him. Two policemen were injured.
Reports say a detonated bomb has been found nearby. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has taken over the investigation to ensure that there are no other bombs there. Police reportedly destroyed some suspicious packets.
This attack happened a few hours before the event of the Sugar Bowl. The Sugar Bowl is an annual college football game that draws large crowds and large television audiences 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. This terrorist attack took place in the last days of President Joe Biden’s administration and three weeks before newly elected President Donald Trump took office.
The White House said that senior officials of the FBI and Department of Homeland Security have informed Biden about the incident. The President is currently in Wilmington and going to Camp David for the weekend. He called Mayor Cantrell and assured full federal support.
Trump had not responded till 10 am local time. Elsewhere in America, New Year celebrations passed off 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.
Biden said inspired by ISIS
President Joe Biden said Wednesday that the suspect who attacked people celebrating New Year’s Day on Bourbon Street was “inspired” by the Islamic State terrorist organization.
In a video posted on social media shortly before the attack in New Orleans, the man indicated he had a “desire to kill,” the president said.