By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-01 15:26:43 | Updated at 2025-01-04 08:45:35
2 days ago
New Orleans police say today's Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame will go ahead, despite a NYE 'terrorist' attack killing 10 people less than a mile from the stadium.
The fate of the College Football Playoff matchup was thrown into doubt after a Ford SUV struck a crowd of people on Bourbon Street at around 3:50am on Wednesday morning, killing 10 and injuring a further 35.
Many believed the game may be postponed given the close proximity to the attack, but police commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick has indicated that it will go ahead as planned.
Speaking to the media, she said officers will work to ensure safety at the Sugar Bowl, and it is anticipated that security will be heightened as 83,000 fans descend on the Superdome.
'He was hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did,' Kirkpatrick said. 'It was very intentional behavior. This man was trying to run over as many people as he could.'
At least 10 people died after a driver rammed into the large group at high speed in New Orleans
Dozens of police officers responded to what authorities declared a 'mass casualty event'
The football game, just a short walk from Bourbon Street, is set to still go ahead on Wednesday
The terrorist in question was killed by cops after a shootout at the scene, as first reported by the New York Times.
The incident occurred less than a mile from the Superdome, which will also host the Super Bowl in just five weeks' time.
Thousands of Notre Dame and Georgia fans had arrived in New Orleans for a night of festivities ahead of the start of the College Football Playoffs, and the historic New Year's Day Sugar Bowl in the city.
But joy turned to terror in the French Quarter in the early hours of the morning as the incident unfolded, despite police presence being at '100% capacity'.
The police department had also claimed that on top of a full capacity team, they had drafted in an additional 300 officers from partner agencies to deal with the New Year's Eve and Sugar Bowl festivities.
The driver rammed into the large group at high speed, then got out and started firing a weapon, witnesses said. Investigators later added that they found what appeared to be improvised explosives at the crash site that did not detonate.
A shootout between police and the suspect ensued, and two officers were shot by the suspect and are in stable condition.
Witnesses claim the suspect was 'wearing full body armor' and 'armed with an assault rifle', and officials said he was 'trying to run over as many people as he possibly could'.
Videos circulating on social media showed a chaotic scene at the tourist hotspot as people ran from the casualty-strewn area while bullets rang out in the background.
Dozens of police officers have responded to what authorities have declared a 'mass casualty event' and a portion of the road has been cordoned off. Paramedics, ambulances and vehicles from the coroner's office were also seen at the scene.
Ambulances have transported the wounded to five area hospitals, the city added, and the FBI have taken over the ongoing investigation.
