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By Shannon McDonagh
News Reporter
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Retractable bollards designed to protect New Orleans' French Quarter from vehicle attacks were inactive due to a replacement project at the time of the New Year's Day attack, which saw 15 people killed in an ISIS-inspired motorist rampage.
City officials are yet to confirm whether the intersection 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove through in a pick up truck was actively under construction.
Why It Matters
The French Quarter is a high-profile tourist destination, and its narrow streets are typically crowded with pedestrians. Rows of steel columns were initially installed in 2017 as part of a safety plan to mitigate vehicle attacks. These barriers, however, required repairs over time, prompting the current replacement project.
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Such attacks often target densely populated pedestrian areas and are frequently linked to terrorism. The New Orleans attack is the deadliest vehicle-based assault on U.S. soil inspired by the Islamic State in recent years.
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What To Know
City documents show the replacement project began on November 18, 2024, affecting eight blocks of Bourbon Street. Temporary asphalt patches covered the sites where bollards had been removed, with work scheduled to conclude before the Super Bowl in February. On December 30, officials issued a public advisory about ongoing construction, noting efforts to minimize disruption during the New Year's celebrations.
Temporary asphalt patches were installed in the spots where the steel columns were removed, according to the documents.
The attacker, Jabbar, reportedly posted videos expressing allegiance to the Islamic State hours before the rampage. The FBI also recovered an Islamic State group flag, which is black with white lettering, from the vehicle. Jabbar had served in the U.S. Army from 2007 to 2020, including a deployment to Afghanistan. Police killed him after he opened fire on responding officers. Two were shot and are in stable condition.
Jabbar drove a rented pickup truck onto a sidewalk, going around a police car that was positioned to block vehicular traffic, authorities said.
They later found explosives and firearms in his vehicle, including improvised explosive devices concealed in coolers. The FBI is treating the attack as terrorism and examining whether Jabbar had accomplices.
Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser questioned the decision to replace bollards during a high-traffic holiday season, stating, "How does that happen for a major event?"
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What People Are Saying
An official statement from the city said some of the old bollards "proved unreliable and have been non-operational [ …] In the interim, white gate barriers have been used in these areas, managed by the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) to secure the street and regulate vehicle access for safety purposes."
President Joe Biden in a statement called the attack a "despicable" and "heinous act."
Anne Kirkpatrick, New Orleans Police Superintendent said: "This is not just an act of terrorism. This is evil." She added that the driver "defeated" safety measures in place to protect pedestrians, and was "hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did."
FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alethea Duncan said: "We do not believe that Jabbar was solely responsible."
What Happens Next
Currently, Bourbon Street is fully open from Canal Street to Toulouse Street.
The city plans to expedite the completion of the bollard replacement project, with new barriers expected to be operational by February. Meanwhile, the FBI continues to investigate potential accomplices and Jabbar's motivations.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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