A man who New Orleans police said was "hell-bent" on driving a truck into a crowd of New Year's Eve revelers on the city's famed Bourbon Street is dead, the FBI, which is now investigating the incident as an act of terrorism, confirmed Wednesday.
"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 FBI said in a statement. "The subject then engaged with local law enforcement and is now deceased. The FBI is the lead investigative agency, and we are working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism."
The FBI's report came after several news outlets, quoting local and federal authorities, reported that the man died after the police shootout.
Initially, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell called the incident a terrorist attack, but the FBI disagreed.
The FBI swept the New Orleans French Quarter on Wednesday for further weapons, New Orleans NBC affiliate WDSU reported. Two small explosions were heard at the nearby intersection of Dauphine and Orleans, but it was unclear what the devices were and if they were connected to the attack.
As of Wednesday morning, the motive behind the attack, which left at least 10 people dead and dozens injured, was not known.
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said early Wednesday that the man's actions were "very intentional."
"This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could," she said. "He was hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did."
The New Orleans Police Department, in a statement Wednesday, said that 10 people were declared dead at the scene and 35 were determined to have suffered injuries and were transported to several area hospitals. No updates have been made available on their conditions.
The suspect in the attack was also declared dead at the scene, the police said.
The public was encouraged to avoid the area until further notice, and police said anyone with information that can help assist with the FBI's investigation is urged to call the agency's New Orleans Bureau at (504) 816-3000 or to email tips@fbi.gov.
The man drove a truck at high speed into the crowd at about 3:15 a.m., then opened fire, shooting and wounding two police officers who were reportedly in stable condition.
The incident happened hours before college football's Allstate Sugar Bowl, being played at the Superdome on Wednesday night.
"The Sugar Bowl Committee is devastated by the terrible events from early this morning," organizers said in a statement. "Thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. We are in ongoing discussions with authorities on the local, state, and federal levels and will communicate further details as they become available."
The Sugar Bowl parade was held Tuesday afternoon in the same area where the truck incident occurred hours later.
Investigators said they also found improvised explosive devices in the man's truck and were trying to determine whether the devices were viable.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., called the attack "so tragic."
"Give thanks for the police officers responding. Remember the wounded and dead and their families," he posted on X.
Cassidy also told CNN that New Orleans officials have a "standard protocol that works."
"We have lots of events: Mardi Gras, Super Bowls — Super Bowl's coming up — Final Fours, you name it, Taylor Swift concerts," he said. "I am very confident that the medical crews across the city were prepared and that the people are receiving all the care they need."
He said he was briefed on the situation by Cantrell and the secretary of Homeland Security. Cassidy's staff has asked for an FBI briefing and called the agency's investigation into the matter as an act of terrorism "significant."
"The terrorists win, if we allow them to strike terror in our heart," Cassidy added. "They lose when we continue with our lives. And let it be known if there is terrorism, we shall track them down, and we shall track them down and bring them to justice. That won't help those who are grieving, but our support for those who are grieving is what we can offer them."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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