Donald Trump has issued a message to New Orleans after a man ploughed a pick up truck into New Year’s Eve revellers, killing 10 and injuring dozens more.
The president-elect took to his social media platform Truth Social to warn of America’s crime rates and express his full support for the city.
He wrote: “The crime rate in our country is at a level that nobody has ever seen before. Our hearts are with all of the innocent victims and their loved ones, including the brave officers of the New Orleans Police Department.
“The Trump administration will fully support the city of New Orleans as they investigate and recover from this act of pure evil.”
New Orleans police superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the killer drove the truck into crowds at around 3.15am at the intersection of Canal and Bourbon Streets in the French Quarter. At least 10 people were killed and 30 more injured.
He then opened fire on two police officers and is now believed to be dead. The FBI has confirmed they are treating it as a terror attack and said they found an improvised explosive devise (IED) at the scene.
Kirkpatrick said: “It was very intentional behaviour. This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could. He was hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.”
Joe Biden has also been briefed about the attack, and his administration reached out to New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell to offer support, The White House said.
The statement read: “President Biden has been briefed on the horrific news that a driver killed and injured dozens of individuals in New Orleans overnight and the White House has been in touch with New Orleans Mayor Cantrell to offer support.
“The FBI is already on the ground supporting local law enforcement in the investigation and the President will continue to be briefed throughout the day.”
New Orleans Governor Jeff Landry wrote in a post on X that “a horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street”, and he was praying for the victims and first responders at the scene. He also urged “all near the scene to avoid the area”.
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas also confirmed his department is working with local law enforcement to investigate the incident as an act of terrorism.
Questions are now being raised about how the suspect was able to drive around barriers set up to ensure people’s safety.