"Hell-Bent On Carnage": 15 Killed As Pickup Truck Rams Crowd In New Orleans

At least 15 people were killed and dozens suffered injuries after a pickup truck ploughed into a crowd in the southern US city of New Orleans on New Year's Day. The driver of the truck also fired at the crowd and exchanged gunfire with the police. 

Officials said a crowd was celebrating when the pickup truck drove into it at high speed at the intersection of Canal and Bourbon Street in a part of the city known as the French Quarter. 

While the police said the driver of the pickup truck was "hell-bent on creating carnage", the FBI - which has taken operational command of the investigation - said a suspected explosive device has been found on the scene.

The FBI also said the driver is now dead and the attack is being investigated as an "act of terrorism".

NOLAREADY: There has been a mass casualty incident on Canal and Bourbon Street. Get yourself away from the area. Visit https://t.co/AyuRn38guC for details.

— NOLA Ready (@nolaready) January 1, 2025

"The 8th District is currently working a mass casualty incident involving a vehicle that drove into a large crowd on Canal and Bourbon Street. There are 30 injured patients that have been transported by NOEMS and 10 fatalities.  Public safety partners are responding on scene," New Orleans' emergency preparedness campaign NOLA Ready said on its website.

Police said the driver tried to hit "as many people" as possible and two police personnel were also shot and wounded.

"This man, this perpetrator, he fired on our officers from his vehicle when he crashed his vehicle. Two of our officers have been shot. They are stable... He was hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did," Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.

Ms Kirkpatrick said the truck had been driven at "very high speed" and in a "very intentional" manner.

In a statement, the FBI said, "This morning, an individual drove a car into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing a number of people and injuring dozens of others. "The subject then engaged with local law enforcement and is now death. The FBI is the lead investigative agency, and we are working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism."

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry described the incident as a "horrific act of violence."

Packed With Revellers

Emergency authorities said the incident took place at approximately 3:15 am local time. At that hour, the French Quarter, renowned for its bars, restaurants and jazz history,  would have been packed with revellers.

CBS News reported witnesses saying the truck rammed into the crowd before its driver jumped out and started exchanging gunfire with police.

A white truck crashed through a barricade "at a high rate of speed," witnesses Jim and Nicole Mowrer said. "Once it was past us, we did hear gunfire, saw police running that direction... Once the gunfire stopped, we stayed in the alcove until the gunfire stopped, came out into the street, and came across a lot of -- several people who had been hit, (we) wanted to see what we could do to help," Nicole Mowrer was quoted as saying in the AFP report.

New Orleans is one of the most visited destinations in the United States and the attack came shortly before the city hosts a major football game, known as the Sugar Bowl, featuring teams from the University of Georgia and Notre Dame.

The city police department had announced staffing at "100 percent, with an additional 300 officers assisting from partner law enforcement agencies," including on horseback and using unmarked units.

The iconic French Quarter listed special deals for New Year's, including LGBTQ parties and a drag cabaret close to where the incident took place.

German Attack

The incident comes days after five people were killed in a similar car-ramming attack in Germany. More than 200 people were also injured in the December 20 attack in the eastern city of Magdeburg, which was allegedly carried out by a man of Saudi origin. The attacker has been arrested and police are investigating whether he is mentally ill.