10 killed, 30 injured as truck rams into crowd in New Orleans; ‘terrorist attack,’ says mayor

RJ ArmyaJanuary 1, 2025

Read Time:1 Minute, 25 Second

US New Orleans Car Accident: At least 10 people were killed and 30 more were injured Wednesday after a truck drove into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, BBC reported quoting New Orleans city officials.

The truck crashed into the crowd at high speed, and the driver then exited the vehicle and began firing a weapon, prompting police to return fire, CBS News reported, citing witnesses. However, the suspect was killed during the firefight with the police, Law enforcement officials told AP news agency.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell called the incident a “terrorist attack.” Meanwhile, the FBI is investigating what occurred early Wednesday, when the vehicle drove into a crowd.

“Initial reports show a car may have plowed into a group of people. Injuries are unknown but there are reported fatalities,” New Orleans Police Department spokesperson told CBS News. Several videos of the incident circulating on social media show multiple casualties on the ground, as per BBC reports.

Nola Ready, responsible for emergency preparedness in the City of New Orleans, posted on X, “There has been a mass casualty incident on Canal and Bourbon Street. Get yourself away from the area. ”

The injured were taken to five local hospitals.

The incident occurred towards the end of New Year’s celebrations in the city and hours before the kickoff of the AllState Bowl, a college football quarterfinal held in the city’s Caesars Superdome — thousands are expected to be in attendance.

The city has witnessed shootings and cars colliding with crowds at past parades — two people were killed and 10 others were injured in two separate incidents along a New Orleans parade route and celebration in November 2024, according to local media reports.