US President Joe Biden has pledged his support to local authorities after a car attack in New Orleans, in which a driver, reportedly dead after a shootout with the police, killed and injured dozens of people.
According to a White House statement, President Biden was informed of the “shocking news” that a driver had killed and injured dozens of people in New Orleans overnight and the White House has been in contact with the city’s Mayor, Cantrell, to offer support. The FBI has already been deployed to the scene and is supporting local law enforcement in the investigation. The President will be further updated throughout the day, the statement said.
The incident occurred at around 3:15 a.m. local time (10:15 a.m. CET) on Bourbon Street, a famous street in New Orleans, where many people were gathered to celebrate New Year’s Eve. At least 10 people have been confirmed dead, and at least 26 others have been taken to hospitals with injuries. According to several US media outlets, citing security officials, the suspected attacker is reportedly dead, having been killed in an exchange of fire with the police.
The motive of the attacker is still unclear. While the Mayor, LaToya Cantrell, described the incident as a “terrorist attack” in her initial statement, a FBI representative said it was not a terrorist event, but that they had found improvised explosive devices, which they were now investigating.
A police spokesperson, on the other hand, said the incident was not a drunk-driving incident, but a premeditated act. The man, reportedly driving a pickup truck at high speed, had intentionally tried to run over as many people as possible along the Bourbon Street. After the attack, the driver opened fire and shot two police officers, whose condition is stable, the spokesperson said.