A tragic incident unfolded in New Orleans, Louisiana, during New Year celebrations, as a vehicle rammed into a crowd, claiming 15 lives. The suspected attacker was killed in a police shootout, and the FBI has released his photograph as part of their investigation.

The event occurred early Wednesday in the French Quarter, according to Al Jazeera. U.S. media reports that 15 fatalities have been confirmed, with authorities indicating it will take several days to complete autopsies and identify the victims after consulting their families.

At around 3 a.m., a man drove a truck into a dense crowd, causing multiple casualties. Following the incident, local police and the FBI launched an investigation and discovered an improvised explosive device (IED) at the scene, which is currently being examined for functionality.

Authorities reported that the truck sped through Bourbon Street, plowing into pedestrians, before the driver exited and began shooting. Police responded with gunfire, neutralizing the suspect.

The emergency preparedness program NOLA Ready described the situation as a mass casualty event in the Eighth District, with the vehicle striking a large gathering near Canal and Bourbon Streets. Over 30 people sustained injuries and were taken to hospitals.

Footage from the scene showed numerous police vehicles, underscoring the scale of the response to this horrific attack.