Sangbad Voice 9, International Desk: At least ten individuals lost their lives, and over thirty sustained injuries when a truck deliberately plowed into a large gathering on Canal and Bourbon Street in New Orleans' French Quarter at high speed early Wednesday morning, according to city officials.
The incident occurred around 3:15 a.m. when the pickup truck collided with the crowd, and shortly thereafter, the driver began firing at police officers from within the vehicle, as reported by New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick during an early morning press briefing. Two officers were shot and are currently receiving treatment in stable condition.
According to CNN and ABC News, citing unnamed sources, the assailant was pronounced dead at the scene. During a televised press conference, Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick stated that the driver had intentionally targeted the crowd at approximately 3:15 a.m.
"This individual was determined to run over as many people as possible," Kirkpatrick remarked. "He was intent on inflicting the destruction and chaos that ensued." Mayor LaToya Cantrell noted that hundreds of police officers were present in the city for New Year's Eve duties at the time of the attack. The truck's driver maneuvered around barricades to reach the crowd, she added.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry described the incident as "a horrific act of violence" on Bourbon Street earlier that morning and urged the public to avoid the area where the attack occurred.
