Truck Tears Through Crowd in New Orleans Killing 10

What Happened?

As a large crowd gathered on Bourbon Street in New Orleans to celebrate the arrival of the new year, a truck with what appears to have been deliberate intent drove through the assembled revelers.

It has killed at least 10 and injured some 30 more.

According New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick ‘Around 3:15 a.m. local time, a man drove down Bourbon Street “at a very fast pace’ and ‘was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could. This is not a DUI situation.’

The FBI issued a subsequent statement that it was investigating the incident as an act of terrorism.

Police reports indicated the driver went around existing barriers then shot two police officers before being killed himself.

The two wounded police officers are expected to survive. 

Why it Matters

The attack is being investigated as an act of terrorism. Police initially thought there could be an explosive device in the attacker’s vehicle. This was later ruled out.

Vehicle attacks on large crowds continue to pose significant security problems for major cities, as a recent vehicle attack in Magdeburg, Germany illustrated.

In that incident, five people were killed and over two hundred were injured. Barricades designed to divert traffic away from crowded streets typically are not capable of physically stopping a vehicle, and drivers can still maneuver around them.

In the New Orleans attack, the driver not only used their vehicle as a weapon but also opened fire on police and may have been in possession of an improvised explosive device.

Such a combination of firearms and explosives, plus a vehicle to kill bystanders would represent a new style of attack that presents multiple security challenges for authorities.

Though New Orleans police killed the attacker, they have not yet provided the public with any information on potential motives for the attack. In recent years more attackers have been turning to vehicles as weapons mainly because cars and trucks are easily obtainable and require no specialized training to operate.

Law enforcement officials refer to this style of attack as a form of low-tech terrorism. 

How it Affects You

Unfortunately, cities and towns are full of potential targets for this type of attack. Because pedestrian streets are often located near roads, attackers have relatively easy access to both. Heavy barriers or other large obstructions can restrict vehicle access but are often expensive and time consuming to install.

The sheer number of potential targets makes it impossible for officials to deploy countermeasures in every location.

The tactics of those intent on causing harm are constantly evolving and changing. Vehicle attacks are particularly difficult to defend against because nearly everyone has access to automobiles.

Once initiated vehicle attacks on crowds can still be difficult to stop. The attacker in Nice, France drove for over a mile after the attack began, hitting people all along the way.