Latest confirmed that ten people were killed and thirty injured early Wednesday when a man intentionally drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans' French Quarter as people were celebrating the new year, officials said. New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the man drove around barricades and hurtled down Bourbon Street in "very intentional behavior" before opening fire on officers.
After exchanging gunfire with police, the driver died the FBI said in a news release. The suspect was apparently shot by law enforcement, according to a law enforcement source.
"This man was trying to run over as many people as he could," said Kirkpatrick, adding that two police officers were hit by gunfire but were in a stable condition.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell referred to it as a likely "terrorist attack." The FBI said in a news release that they are investigating it "as an act of terrorism."
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry called it "a horrific act of violence" and said he and his wife were "praying for all the victims and first responders on scene." He urged people to avoid the area.
The popular tourist district was full of New Year's Day revelers at the time of the attack.
"He was hellbent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did," Kirkpatrick said.
Witnesses told press Kati Weis that a white truck crashed into people on Bourbon Street at high speed, and the driver then started firing a weapon from inside the vehicle, with police returning fire.
In a statement posted online the City of New Orleans said, that 30 people were transported to area hospitals with injuries and 10 people were confirmed dead. Kirkpatrick later said that at least 35 people were hospitalized.
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