New Orleans Faces Super Bowl, Mardi Gras Safety Concerns After Bourbon Street Attack

New Orleans faces safety concerns for two major upcoming events, Super Bowl LIX and Mardi Gras, after an attack on New Year’s revelers early Wednesday.

Newsweek reached out to the New Orleans Police Department via email for comment on Wednesday night.

Why It Matters

The attack that killed at least 15 people and injured 30 more came about a month before the Super Bowl and days before the beginning of Carnival season, which ends with Mardi Gras on March 4.

Local authorities must work hard to make people feel safe to attend another big event in New Orleans after a New Year’s celebration on Bourbon Street ended tragically.

What To Know

Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran from Texas, has been named the suspect in the New Year’s attack that is being treated as an act of terrorism.

At around 4:15 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Jabbar allegedly rammed a pickup truck into a crowd of revelers in the French Quarter. The truck eventually stopped, and Jabbar allegedly opened fire on responding police officers, injuring two before being killed in a shootout with law enforcement.

Four victims have been identified by their families: Reggie Hunter, Nikyra Dedeaux, Tiger Bech and Nicole Perez.

An ISIS flag, weapons and a potential IED were found in the suspect’s rented truck, according to the FBI. Two additional IEDs were found earlier Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, the Sugar Bowl was supposed to kick off on Wednesday between the SEC [Southeastern Conference] champions, the Georgia Bulldogs, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish; however, it was delayed in the wake of the attack.

The quarterfinal game between 2-seed Georgia and 7-seed Notre Dame was rescheduled for Thursday, January 2, at the Caesars Superdome.

NFL Responds To Bourbon Street Attack

The National Football League (NFL) said in a statement that the league and the New Orleans host committee “have been working collaboratively with local, state and federal agencies the past two years and have developed comprehensive security plans.”

“These planning sessions will continue as they do with all major NFL events, and we are confident attendees will have a safe and enjoyable Super Bowl experience,” the statement said.

Attack Showed Cracks In New Orleans’ Security

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell told reporters that the city hoped to replace bollards—posts used to prevent vehicles from ramming into people, things and places—before the Super Bowl, scheduled for February 9 at the Caesars Superdome.

“Bollards were not up because they are near completion with the expectation of being completed, of course, by Super Bowl—way before Super Bowl,” Cantrell said.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said officials recognized the bollard problem and said, “We’re going to fix it.”

“It is going to be a top priority as we go into the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras, and a solution that we’re going to come up with is going to be a permanent one, is going to be placed into the standard operating procedure of having major events and securing that quarter,” he said.

What People Are Saying

The NFL, in a statement: “We are deeply saddened by the news of the devastating incident in New Orleans. Our thoughts are with the victims, the New Orleans community and all those affected.”

President Joe Biden, at a press conference: “I grieve with you.”

“Our nation grieves with you. We’re going to stand with you as you mourn and as you heal in the weeks to come,” he said.

Former first lady Melania Trump, on X, formerly Twitter: “The incidents of violence that have impacted our communities are deeply concerning. The brutality must stop. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the families who are experiencing such profound grief and loss. Let us strive for a future where peace prevails.”

The post didn’t name the New Orleans attack. However, it comes amid the fallout from that incident and another incident later Wednesday morning in Las Vegas, when a Cybertruck exploded in front of the Trump International Hotel, killing one person and injuring seven more.

What Happens Next

The FBI is leading the investigation into the New Orleans case. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said it is investigating the Cybertruck explosion, a probe in which the FBI is involved.

Police are currently trying to determine if the Las Vegas incident was an act of terrorism. An official with knowledge of the investigation told the outlet that there were fireworks-style mortars inside the Cybertruck.

Biden said at the press conference about the New Orleans attack that law enforcement and the intelligence community are looking into whether there’s “any possible connection” between that attack and the Las Vegas incident.