Police: New Orleans Driver Kills 10, ‘Hell-Bent on Carnage’

A driver in a pickup truck who officials said was “determined to kill” plowed through a crowd of pedestrians in New Orleans’ bustling French Quarter, killing 10 and injuring 30 in an act being investigated as a New Year’s Eve terror attack.

The attack happened around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday along Bourbon Street, known around the world as one of the biggest New Year’s party destinations, as the city’s crowds flew balloons in anticipation of the Sugar Bowl playoff game at the nearby Superdome later in the day.

“He was hell-bent on creating the carnage and damage that he did,” Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick said. She said police officials will be working to ensure security at the Sugar Bowl, indicating the game will go on as scheduled.

“It was very deliberate behavior. This man was trying to run over as many people as he could,” Kirkpatrick said.

Officials did not immediately provide an update on the driver’s status, whether there was an ongoing threat to the public or offer a suspect motive for the fatal incident at the city’s famous canal and Bourbon streets early Wednesday morning.

Alethea Duncan, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s New Orleans field office, said officials are investigating the discovery of at least one suspected improvised explosive device at the scene.

Officials did not immediately provide an update on the driver’s status, whether there was an ongoing threat to the public or offer suspicion of a motive.

NOLA Ready, the city’s emergency department, said the injured were taken to five local hospitals. A policeman is among the injured.

The White House said President Joe Biden had been notified.