New Orleans: The death toll has now risen to at least 15 people in the New Orleans following what the authorities call an “act of terrorism” after a car rammed into a crowd on Bourbon Street on Wednesday morning (US Local Time), CNN reported.

In an official statement, New Orleans Coroner Dwight McKenna said, “As of now, 15 people are dead. It will take several days to perform all autopsies. Once we complete the autopsies and talk with the next of kin, we will release the identifications of the victims.”

Earlier, 10 people was reported as deceased while 30 sustained injured, officials said. The incident occurred during New Year’s Eve celebrations near New Orleans historic centre, French Quarter.

Crowds had gathered to attend an open-air concert and New Year’s countdown, with restaurants offering special deals and performances, CNN reported quoting the city’s official website.

Many of the celebrations had been aimed at college football fans who were coming to the city for the Allstate Sugar Bowl, scheduled to take place on Wednesday (US Local time), including a parade that had taken place Tuesday. The Sugar Bowl is an annual college football game that draws fans from all over the US, with the University of Georgia taking on Notre Dame.

As per CNN, on Monday, the New Orleans Police Department had said it would be staffed “at 100 per cent” during the festivities, adding it had 300 additional officers assisting from partner law enforcement agencies.

It would also work with local, state and federal partners to provide security coverage citywide, the police statement said, adding that they would deploy “a strong presence of marked and unmarked police vehicles, as well as officers on foot, bike, and horseback.”

New Orleans’ Emergency Preparedness Campaign (NOLA) shared the details on X. “NOLAREADY: There has been a mass casualty incident on Canal and Bourbon Street. Get yourself away from the area. Visit http://ready.nola.gov for details.”

On its official website, NOLA noted, “The 8th District is currently working a mass casualty incident involving a vehicle that drove into a large crowd on Canal and Bourbon Street at approximately 3:15 AM. Public safety partners are responding on scene. Updates will follow as they are received.” 

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