At least 10 killed, dozens injured after truck drives into large crowd in New Orleans

At least 10 people were killed and more than 35 others injured after a truck drove into a large crowd in New Orleans early Wednesday morning (Jan 1).

NOLA Ready, the city’s emergency preparedness agency, said the "mass casualty incident" happened at about 3.15am (5.15pm Singapore time) on Canal Street and Bourbon Street.

It urged people to "get yourself away from the area". Those who were injured were taken to five hospitals.

US media outlets, citing unnamed law enforcement officials, said the suspect, described by one city leader as being in "full military gear," died after a shootout with police,.

"HELL-BENT ON CREATING CARNAGE"

The driver had tried to "run over as many people as he possibly could", said New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick.

At that hour, the area would been packed with revellers celebrating New Year in the French Quarter district, renowned for its bars, restaurants and jazz history.

He was "hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did", she added.

"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."

"We know the perpetrator has been killed," said New Orleans City Councilman Oliver Thomas. "As we search for a motive, remember there is no making sense of evil."

Officials did not immediately name the suspect.

NBC News, citing three unnamed senior law enforcement sources, identified the suspect as Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42.

NOLA.com, citing one unidentified law enforcement source, reported that same suspect was carrying an ISIS flag in the truck. Reuters was unable to verify the reports and the US Army did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) initially said the attack was "not a terrorist event", but the bureau later said it was investigating it "as an act of terrorism".

A suspected improvised explosive device was found and the FBI is working to determine if it was viable.

New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell said she is in contact with the White House about the incident. She also urged people to stay clear of the area.

President Joe Biden has been briefed on the latest developments in New Orleans and will continue to be briefed throughout the day, said the White House. The president also offered Cantrell "full federal support".

"I have directed my team to ensure every resource is available as federal, state, and local law enforcement work assiduously to get to the bottom of what happened as quickly as possible and to ensure that there is no remaining threat of any kind," Biden said in a statement.

President-elect Donald Trump said in a statement that his incoming administration would "fully support the City of New Orleans as they investigate and recover from this act of pure evil!"

In a post on X, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry called the attack "a horrific act of violence".

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

A white truck crashed through a barricade "at a high rate of speed," witnesses Jim and Nicole Mowrer told CBS.

"Once it was past us, we did hear gunfire, saw police running that direction," Nicole Mowrer said.

"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."

One eyewitness told CNN he had seen a truck "slamming into everyone" on the pavement, adding that gunshots were also heard.

Another person told the US news outlet that people were "yelling and screaming" and running to the back of a nightclub that she was in. She added that the club went into "lockdown".

New Orleans is one of the most heavily visited destinations in the United States and the incident 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.

Policing was heavy over the New Year's, according to the city, as authorities braced for the crowds.

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

In November 2024, two people were killed and 10 others injured in two separate shootings along a New Orleans parade route and celebration attended by thousands, local media reported.

In February 2017, a pickup truck driven by a man who police said appeared to be highly intoxicated ploughed into a crowd of spectators watching the main Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, injuring more than 20 people.