NYPD heightens security in NYC in wake of New Orleans deadly 'terrorist attack'
Mayor Eric Adams called the 'horrific act of terrorism' in New Orleans 'heartbreaking'
NEW YORK (WABC) -- The NYPD has not identified any specific or credible threats to New York City in the wake of an attack in New Orleans that left 10 people dead and dozens injured during the first few hours of the new year, according to officials.
Counterterrorism teams are on high alert in New York City after the early morning attack on Bourbon Street.
A very comparable tourist attraction like Times Square is still busy with tourists from New Year's Eve.
"Listen, we're not kidding ourselves. New York is always an attractive target. Today we deployed police personnel to the right locations and we're going to continue to remain vigilant as people move about their daily lives here," Mayor Eric Adams said.
"The NYPD has been closely monitoring recent events in New Orleans and coordinating with federal and regional partners. We have not identified any specific/credible threats or any nexus to New York City at this time," a DCPI spokesperson said.
New York's top leaders react to New Orleans attack
Local leaders in New York are also reacting after learning of the devastating attack.
Mayor Eric Adams called the "horrific act of terrorism" in New Orleans "heartbreaking."
"I am praying for the victims who lost their lives, all those who were injured, and the city in mourning today," he said. "We stand ready to offer our assistance in whichever way we can."
Governor Kathy Hochul said she's praying for the families and everyone "impacted by last night's horrific terror attack in New Orleans."
"News that the NOLA NYE murders were a terrorist attack sends chills down the spines of all New Yorkers. Shocking in its brazenness," she said in a post on X. "I have directed @nyspolice counterintelligence to be on high alert."
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the NYPD will continue to enhance security across the city.
"Preliminary review of the alleged perpetrator's background, actions,and online presence have not revealed any ties to New York City. However, in an abundance of caution, the NYPD will continue to enhance presence across the city at relevant locations as warranted," she said in a statement.
On Long Island, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said, "Our hearts go out to the innocent victims of this senseless act of terrorism and cowardice."
Blakeman said he has been in communication with Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder and other law enforcement officials as they monitor the developments in New Orleans.
Suffolk County Police also released the following statement in response to the attack, "The department continuously communicates with local and national law enforcement agencies and our officers remain vigilant. There is already an increased police presence because of the holidays and we ask residents to report any suspicious activity to police."
What we know about the deadly attack on Bourbon Street
It comes after a suspect who was "hell-bent" on killing as many people as possible drove a rented pickup truck around barricades and plowed his vehicle through a crowd of New Year's revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans at a high rate of speed, leaving at least 15 dead and injuring dozens of others early Wednesday, city and federal officials said.
After mowing down numerous people over a three-block stretch on the famed thoroughfare while firing shots into the crowd, the suspect allegedly got out of the truck wielding an assault rifle and opened fire on police officers, law enforcement officials briefed on the incident told ABC News. Officers returned fire, killing the suspect, sources said. At least two police officers were shot and wounded, authorities said.
The FBI confirms the subject has been identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas. He was driving a Ford pickup truck, which appears to have been rented from the Houston area. An ISIS flag was located in the vehicle and the FBI is working to determine the subject's potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations.
Improvised explosive devices found in and around the scene on Bourbon Street were apparently found to be viable and investigators were looking for more in the city's French Quarter, multiple law enforcement sources tell ABC News. Investigators are working to determine whether the deceased suspect entered the country recently and whether he had a connection to ISIS, law enforcement sources told ABC News.
Jason Williams, the district attorney of Orleans Parrish, which includes New Orleans, told ABC News that investigators are conducting a grid search to determine if other explosive devices were planted. He also said investigators are probing whether the suspect acted alone or had help from others in planning and executing the attack.
Williams also said an investigation is underway on whether barricades along Bourbon Street were still up at the time of the attack.
Similarities to attacks in New York City
Retired NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce spoke about the similarities between this attack and ones carried out in New York City and the bollards that helped prevent more carnage several years ago.
"I will tell you this, every bollard in New York City is up right now, every asset is out there to prevent something like this to go forward," said retired NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce.
Bollards are metal columns meant to stop vehicles. The ones at 45th Street and Seventh Avenue were what prevented more people from being killed in May of 2017.
That's when Richard Rojas, while high on drugs, drove a car onto the sidewalk, killing one person and severely injuring 20 others. He ended up crashing into the bollards.
Since then, more barriers have been installed all over the city. In the end, Rojas was found not guilty because of insanity.
"It is the most basic attack and really unsophisticated, not too much technology renting a car and killing people," Boyce said.
It's an attack that was witnessed again, just months after the Times Square incident.
Boyce points out that killing spree on a West Side bike path has some disturbing similarities to what's now happened on Bourbon Street.
In both incidents, the suspects were driving rented trucks, carried firearms and items linking them to a terror group.
"The secondary weapons, that's right in ISIS teachings when they do this, also the black flags," Boyce said.
On October 31, 2017, Sayfullo Saipov barreled down that bike path, killing eight people and injuring more than a dozen others.
Saipov was caught but Boyce suspects that may not have been his plan, rather he says it may have been more like what unfolded Wednesday morning, in which the suspect died in a shootout with police.
"A terrorist, this is it for him, he's going to die and he knows it, so he doesn't care so much about his way out of it," Boyce said.
Law enforcement in New York City were already on heightened alert amid the holiday season after a car plowed into people visiting a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, just days before Christmas.
Although there was no evidence linking the Germany attack to New York, the NYPD took no chances and assured New Yorkers that the NYPD would surge resources across holiday markets and events across the city.
ABC News contributed to this report.
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