New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has shared a statement stating that the New Year's incident on Bourbon Street is being treated as a terrorist attack.
At around 3AM on New Year's Day, a pickup truck drove into a crowd in New Orleans' French Quarter, plowing into revelers celebrating the New Year.
New Orleans’ emergency preparedness agency, NOLA, confirmed it is dealing with a mass casualty incident in the Bourbon Street area, which took place at around 3AM local time.
NOLA said in a statement: "The 8th District is currently working a mass casualty incident involving a vehicle that drove into a large crowd on Canal and Bourbon Street.
"Public safety partners are responding on scene."
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell addressed the media in a press conference, referring to the tragic events as a "terrorist attack".
While the exact details of the incident remain under investigation, she confirmed she had been in contact with the White House and Louisiana's governor.
She asked "for prayers for those who have lost their lives", and told the public to avoid eight blocks around Bourbon Street where the incident took place.
Police superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick confirmed that 35 people were known to have been taken to local hospitals, though that number is expected to rise.
She also revealed that the man had fired on officers, injuring two of them who are in stable condition, and added that most of the casualties appeared to be locals rather than tourists.
Police described the incident as "intentional behavior" rather than a DUI incident.
Special agent Althea Duncan, who has taken over the case on behalf of the FBI, appeared to contradict Cantrell's statement, telling reporters: "This is not a terrorist event."
She added that "improvised explosive devices" were found on the scene, and are working to find out if they are "viable", stressing again for people to avoid the area "until we can figure out what is going on".
Witnesses claimed to CBS News that a truck had crashed into the crowd at high speed before the driver got out and started firing a weapon, prompting police to return fire.
In footage shared online from the scene, gunfire can be heard in the background as members of the public ran from the area.
The injured have been transported to hospitals nearby, with officials warning that the death toll could potentially rise.
Further details are expected to be shared in a press conference at 11AM local time.
This is a breaking news story, more to follow.
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