At least 10 people killed as vehicle drives into New Year’s Eve crowd in New Orleans

At least 10 people have been killed in New Orleans after a vehicle drove into a New Year’s Eve crowd at approximately 3am local time.

Police have said they are facing a mass casualty incident, after a car allegedly drove into a group of people on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter.

It is likely that the area was filled with locals and tourists celebrating the new year when the incident occurred.

A vehicle is believed to have driven into a crowd in New Orleans (BBC)

In a statement online, the City of New Orleans said: “The 8th District is currently working a mass casualty incident involving a vehicle that drove into a large crowd on Canal and Bourbon Street.

“Public safety partners are responding on scene. Updates will follow as they are received.”

Meanwhile, a New Orleans Police Department spokesperson told CBS News that ‘initial reports show a car may have plowed into a group of people. Injuries are unknown but there are reported fatalities’.

Speaking to CBS News, witnesses have claimed that a truck ploughed into a crowd before the driver left the vehicle with a weapon.

Gunfire was then reported to have been heard from the scene.

It is believed that at least 10 have been killed in the incident (CBS News)

Jim and Nicole Mowrer – who were visiting New Orleans – said they saw a truck crash through a barricade. They told the outlet: “We were pretty, pretty close to where it started.

“Once it was past us, we did hear gunfire, saw police running that direction.

“Once the gunfire stopped, we stayed in the alcove until the gunfire stopped, came out into the street, and came across a lot of — several people who had been hit, [we] wanted to see what we could do to help.”

It is believed that at least 10 people have died in the incident, but the total number of fatalities is currently unknown. Meanwhile, at least 30 have been injured.

Videos circulating on social media appear to see multiple victims being treated for their injuries, meanwhile others have been transported to five local hospitals in the region.

Authorities are now warning people to stay away from the area while investigations are carried out.

More to follow.