President Joe Biden said Wednesday there was “no justification” for what he called a “horrific” attack from the start. New Year’s Day New OrleansNoting that the FBI was investigating it as an act of terrorism.
“Since early morning I have been continuously briefed by federal law enforcement leadership and my homeland security team, including Homeland Security Secretary Ali Mayorkas, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall and the mayor of New Orleans about the horrific incident that occurred overnight,” Biden said in a statement.
At least 10 people have been killed and 35 injured when a vehicle plowed into a crowd on Bourbon Street, authorities said.
According to the police, the driver was “intentional” to cause damage as they were speeding down the street on Wednesday morning. The driver then got out of the vehicle with an assault weapon, and was shot dead by provincial police.
“I am grateful for the brave and swift response of local law enforcement to prevent further deaths and injuries,” Biden said. “I have directed my team to ensure that all resources are available as federal, state and local law enforcement work to get to the bottom of what happened as quickly as possible and ensure that no threat remains.”
“I will continue to provide updates throughout the day, and will say more as we have more information to share. In the meantime, my heart goes out to the victims and their families who were trying to celebrate the holidays.” added the president. “There is no justification for any violence, and we will not tolerate attacks on any community in our nation.”
President Joe Biden made remarks in Christiansted, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, on December 29, 2024.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
President-elect Donald Trump also weighed in on the tragedy, calling it “pure evil.”
“Our hearts go out to all 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 heinous act!” Trump wrote in a statement on his conservative social media platform.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana native, also called the violence “pure evil.”
“The vicious attack on innocent people celebrating the New Year in New Orleans early this morning was an act of pure evil, and justice must be swift for anyone involved,” Johnson wrote in X. “Please join us in praying for the victims, their families and the first responders and investigators on the scene.”
Police cordon off the intersection of Canal Street and Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana on January 1, 2025.
Matthew Hinton/AFP via Getty Images
Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, also a Republican, called the incident “tragic” but believes the Sugar Bowl — the college football game played in New Orleans on New Year’s Day — should go on.
“Terrorists win if we don’t have our lives. We have to live our lives. Otherwise, once again, they win and they can’t win. We have to track them down, we have to hunt them down, we have to know their support network, and we have to bring them to justice,” Cassidy said on Fox News.
Representative Troy Carter, Democrat of Louisiana, whose congressional district includes New Orleans, said he had spoken with the White House and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about the attack. Carter said his heart goes out to the victims and their families.
“As we continue to learn more about this tragedy, including the motive behind this senseless violence, I am committed to working with local and federal authorities to ensure justice for victims and strengthen measures that protect our communities against acts of terror,” Carter said. he said in a statement.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
