Louisiana AG orders review of New Orleans security plans after deadly truck attack

Louisiana’s Attorney General announced Monday a “full review” of New Orleans’ security plans in the wake of the New Year's Day terror attack on Bourbon Street that killed 14 revelers and injured dozens more.

State Attorney General Liz Murrill ordered the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation to examine the city’s security plans for New Year’s Eve and the Sugar Bowl after consulting with the governor, she said in a statement.

The move comes after criticism and questions about New Orleans’ security protocol, in which it failed to deploy anti-vehicle barriers that it had owned for years. Additionally, other barriers, known as bollards, had recently been removed because they were malfunctioning and needed to be replaced. 

“The People of Louisiana deserve answers. We are committed to getting a full and complete picture of what was done or not done, and more importantly, what needs to change so we can prevent this from ever happening again,” Murrill said. 

She said the review was expected to explore all aspects of planning and execution of security measures for New Year's Eve celebrations and the Sugar Bowl held on New Year's Day at the Superdome. She said funding, risk assessments and security policies would come under scrutiny.

Murrill said police and city officials have pledged their support for the review.

She thanked the New Orleans Police Department for its response, saying it was “through their bravery and quick action” that the attacker was killed before more lives were lost. 

“It’s my hope that our findings will help provide our law enforcement officers and the City of New Orleans with the tools and insight they need to best ensure the safety of the community and our many visitors,” she said in the statement.

New Orleans officials have defended the city's New Year's Eve security measures, which they said included installing temporary barriers, vehicles and law enforcement personnel throughout the French Quarter.

Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick described the attacker, who drove a pickup truck around a police car and then careened down the sidewalk on Bourbon Street, as “a terrorist” who was “hell-bent on destruction.” 

“This man was going to do his best, and if it hadn’t been on Bourbon, he was going to go somewhere else,” she said.

President Joe Biden on Monday upgraded the upcoming Mardi Gras in New Orleans to a Special Event Assessment Rating of 1, the highest level issued by the Department of Homeland Security for significant events in the U.S. or abroad that “require extensive federal interagency support.” It had previously been assessed as a Level 2 event.

The Biden administration said in a statement that federal assistance during March 4 Mardi Gras festivities could include explosive detection canine teams, cyber risk assessment, venue screening, field intelligence teams, and air security and tactical operations support.

The Super Bowl, which will be held at the Superdome on Feb. 9, had already received a 1 rating, which it gets every year, no matter the host city.