New Orleans Attack: 10 people killed, over 30 injured after high speed truck rams into crowd

New Orleans Truck Attack: A tragic incident came to light on Wednesday in which a truck at high speed rammed into a crowd of people celebrating the new year on the Bourbon Street in New Orleans' French Quarter.

As many as 10 people died in the New Orleans truck attack while over 30 were injured. After ramming into people, the driver got out of the vehicle and started firing a weapon, in response police returned fire, CBS News reported citing witnesses.

“There has been a mass casualty incident on Canal and Bourbon Street. Get yourself away from the area,” New Orleans Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, NOLA Ready, in a social media post on X said.

According to WGNO-TV, the incident occurred around 3:15 am on Wednesday at the intersection of Bourbon and Iberville streets. The injured were rushed to five local hospitals.

New Orleans truck attack happened hours before the scheduled commencement of AllState Bowl, a college football quarterfinal held in the city's Caesars Superdome. Thousands are expected to attend the event. "Initial reports show a car may have plowed into a group of people. Injuries are unknown but there are reported fatalities," CBS News quoted New Orleans Police Department spokesperson as saying.

Taking to social media platform X, the governor of Louisiana Jeff Landry said a horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street earlier this morning. According to an eye-witness report, crashing noises coming from down the street were heard and a white truck slamming through a barricade "at a high rate of speed" was spotted, CBS News reported.

This incident follows past incidents of shootings and cars colliding with crowds at past parades in New Orleans. Last year in November, two people were killed and 10 others injured in two separate shootings along a New Orleans parade route. These celebrations were attended by thousands.

Another incident was reported in February 2017, an inebriated pickup truck driver rammed into a crowd of spectators watching the main Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans. As many as 20 people were injured in the incident.