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At least 10 people are dead and 30 left injured after a vehicle plowed into a crowd celebrating New Year on Bourbon Street in New Orleans' French Quarter.
The driver rammed into the large group at high speed, then got out and started firing a weapon, witnesses said.
Police returned fire, and two officers were shot by the suspect and are in stable condition.
Witnesses claim the suspect was 'wearing full body armor' and 'armed with an assault rifle', according to reports on social media.
Videos circulating on social media showed a chaotic scene at the tourist hotspot as people ran from the casualty-strewn area while bullets rang out in the background.
Dozens of police officers have responded to what authorities have declared a 'mass casualty event' and a portion of the road has been cordoned off. Paramedics, ambulances and vehicles from the coroner's office were also seen at the scene.
Ambulances have transported the wounded to five area hospitals, the city added, and the FBI have taken over the ongoing investigation.
No information about the suspect has been released at this time and it is unclear if any arrests have been made.
The horror unfolded at around 3:15am local time Wednesday when the vehicle, which appeared to be a Ford SUV, plowed into the crowd at the intersection of Bourbon Street and Canal Street.
A man, who claimed to witness the incident while out with his wife, wrote on X that he saw the SUV 'speeding' down the road and 'running people over'.
Another alleged witness told WLWT that she saw the vehicle strike the crowd and multiple officers open fire at the suspect. She says she started running and only escaped 'by the grace of god'.
Kevin Garcia, 22, said the car was 'slamming into everyone on the left side of Bourbon sidewalk'. He heard gunshots ring out and claims a 'body came flying at me', CNN reported.
The driver rammed into the large group at high speed, then got out and started firing a weapon, witnesses said.
Police returned fire, and two officers were shot by the suspect and are in stable condition.
Witnesses claim the suspect was 'wearing full body armor' and 'armed with an assault rifle', according to reports on social media.
Videos circulating on social media showed a chaotic scene at the tourist hotspot as people ran from the casualty-strewn area while bullets rang out in the background.
Dozens of police officers have responded to what authorities have declared a 'mass casualty event' and a portion of the road has been cordoned off. Paramedics, ambulances and vehicles from the coroner's office were also seen at the scene.
Ambulances have transported the wounded to five area hospitals, the city added, and the FBI have taken over the ongoing investigation.
No information about the suspect has been released at this time and it is unclear if any arrests have been made.
The horror unfolded at around 3:15am local time Wednesday when the vehicle, which appeared to be a Ford SUV, plowed into the crowd at the intersection of Bourbon Street and Canal Street.
A man, who claimed to witness the incident while out with his wife, wrote on X that he saw the SUV 'speeding' down the road and 'running people over'.
Another alleged witness told WLWT that she saw the vehicle strike the crowd and multiple officers open fire at the suspect. She says she started running and only escaped 'by the grace of god'.
Kevin Garcia, 22, said the car was 'slamming into everyone on the left side of Bourbon sidewalk'. He heard gunshots ring out and claims a 'body came flying at me', CNN reported.
