President Joe Biden mentioned on Wednesday there’s “no justification” for what he referred to as the “horrific” assault early on New Year’s Day in New Orleans, noting that the FBI was investigating it as an act of terrorism.
“I’ve been frequently briefed since early this morning by federal legislation enforcement management and my homeland safety workforce, together with Secretary of Homeland Safety Ali Mayorkas, Deputy Lawyer Basic Lisa Monaco, White Home Homeland Safety Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall, and the Mayor of New Orleans relating to the horrific incident that occurred there in a single day,” Biden mentioned in a written assertion.
No less than 10 individuals had been killed and 35 injured when a automobile rammed right into a crowd gathered on Bourbon Road, authorities mentioned.
Police say the driving force was “hellbent” on inflicting injury as they drove on the road at a really quick tempo within the early morning hours Wednesday. The motive force then exited the automobile with an assault weapon, and was shot and killed by officers.
“I’m grateful for the courageous and swift response of native legislation enforcement in stopping even higher demise and harm,” Biden mentioned. “I’ve directed my workforce to make sure each useful resource is out there as federal, state, and native legislation enforcement work assiduously to unravel what occurred as rapidly as potential and to make sure that there isn’t a remaining menace of any variety.”
President Joe Biden speaks to reporters earlier than boarding Air Drive One at Delaware Air Nationwide Guard Base in New Fortress, Delaware, on January 1, 2025, en path to Maryland.
Chris Kleponis/AFP through Getty Photographs
“I’ll proceed to obtain updates all through the day, and I’ll have extra to say as we’ve got additional info to share. Within the meantime, my coronary heart goes out to the victims and their households who had been merely making an attempt to rejoice the vacation,” the president added within the assertion. “There isn’t any justification for violence of any variety, and we won’t tolerate any assault on any of our nation’s communities.”
Biden briefly spoke concerning the assault as he departed Delaware to journey to Camp David, although he declined to touch upon particular questions from reporters relating to the suspect’s id.
“I’ve contacted each company within the federal authorities, in addition to the state. They’re all coordinating to get — get to the naked information,” he mentioned.
The president mentioned his first response to studying concerning the violence was “one in all anger and frustration” and that he would have “extra to say within the subsequent hour or so.”
President-elect Donald Trump additionally weighed in on the tragedy, calling it “pure evil.”
“Our hearts are with all the harmless victims and their family members, together with the courageous officers of the New Orleans Police Division. The Trump Administration will totally assist the Metropolis of New Orleans as they examine and get well from this act of pure evil!” Trump wrote in an announcement on his conservative social media platform.
Home Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana native, additionally referred to as the violence “pure evil.”
“The vicious assault on harmless individuals celebrating the New 12 months in New Orleans early this morning was an act of pure evil, and justice should be swift for anybody who was concerned,” Johnson wrote on X. “Please be part of us in praying for the victims, their households, and the primary responders and investigators on the scene.”
Police cordon off the intersection of Canal Road and Bourbon Road within the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 1, 2025.
Matthew Hinton/AFP through Getty Photographs
Louisiana Sen. Invoice Cassidy, additionally a Republican, referred to as the incident “tragic” however mentioned he believed the Sugar Bowl — an annual school soccer sport performed in New Orleans on New 12 months’s Day — ought to go on.
“The terrorists win if we do not reside our lives. We should reside our lives. In any other case, another time, they win and so they cannot win. We have got to trace them down, we have to hunt them down, we have to search out out their supporting community, and we have to convey them to justice,” Cassidy mentioned on Fox Information.
Democratic Rep. Troy Carter of Louisiana, whose congressional district contains New Orleans, mentioned he is spoken to the White Home and to DHS Secretary Mayorkas concerning the assault. Carter mentioned his coronary heart was with the victims and their households.
“As we proceed to study extra about this tragedy, together with the motive behind such mindless violence, I’m dedicated to working with native and federal authorities to make sure justice for the victims and to strengthen measures that safeguard our communities in opposition to acts of terror,” Carter mentioned in an announcement.
It is a creating story. Please examine again for updates.
