Tragic New Year in New Orleans. Ten people died and thirty others were injured, according to a provisional report, after a vehicle intentionally crashed into the crowd gathered to celebrate the New Year, around 3:15 a.m., in the French Quarter of Louisiana’s largest city, on Bourbon Street.
“A multiple victim incident took place at the intersection of Canal and Bourbon Street. Move away from the area,” announced on the social network NOLA Ready, the city’s emergency response agency, shortly after 5 a.m. local time (noon in Paris). The injured were transported to five different hospitals, NOLA Ready later said. in a press release.
In a first press conference held shortly after 6:30 a.m., the city’s police chief, Anne Kirkpatrick, indicated that a man had crossed barricades in his vehicle and raced down Bourbon in a manner “very intentional”before opening fire on police officers. “This man was trying to crush as many people as he could.”she added, specifying that two police officers had been hit by gunfire but were in stable condition.
Questioned by the American channel CNN, a witness declared having seen “a vehicle which hit everyone on the left side of the Bourbon sidewalk”while another confided to having been confined in a nightclub near the place where the tragedy occurred. According to other witnesses quoted by CBS, the vehicle drove into the crowd at high speed, before its driver got out to fire several shots, to which the police responded.
“Terrorist attack”
Interviewed by a CBS News reporter, Jim and Nicole Mowrer, visiting New Orleans from Iowa, witnessed the drama. After watching the city’s fireworks display and while enjoying the New Year’s Day atmosphere in the French Quarter, the couple said they heard crashing sounds coming from down the street and then gunshots. “Once the vehicle passed us, we heard gunshots, we saw the police running in that direction”said Nicole Mowrer. After taking shelter in an alcove “until the shooting stops”the couple went out into the street to try to help the victims, several of whom were already dead.
“We know that the city of New Orleans was hit by a terrorist attack”declared the city’s mayor, LaToya Cantrell, during the press conference, urging the population not to approach the area of the tragedy and describing the situation as “very active”. The Democratic councilor indicated that he was in direct contact with the White House and the Republican governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, who deplored on his side on “a horrible act of violence”.
The attack was carried out in the most touristy area of the city, famous for its famous Mardi Gras carnival but also for its exuberant New Year’s celebrations. It also took place a few hours before the Sugar Bowl, a famous college American football game, which attracts hordes of fans from all over the country.
According to the police chief’s first cautious statements, however, most of the injured were local residents, and not visitors. “We have some information on the demographics of people who are currently in hospitalsaid Anne Kirkpatrick. We don’t know yet how many people are tourists or locals, but from the information I have it seems the majority of them are locals.”
More information to come…
Source: www.liberation.fr
