A man “hellbent on carnage” slammed a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year revellers in New Orleans on Wednesday, killing at least 10 people and injuring more than 35 in an attack authorities said they were investigating as terrorism.

The man, who initially fled after exchanging gunfire with police, is now dead, the FBI said, without giving details.

Local police said the heart of the city’s famous French Quarter was packed with people celebrating the start of 2025 when the man drove at “very high speed” and in a “very intentional” manner” into the crowds about 3.15am (10.15pm NZT).

“This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could,” Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick told reporters.

“He was hellbent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.”

FBI investigators arrive at the scene where the white Ford F-150 pick-up truck allegedly drove into a crowd of New Year's revellers in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Photo / AFP

The attacker shot at police, who fired back. Two officers were wounded but were stable, she said.

The FBI said it was “working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism”.

The attacker had been identified as a US citizen named Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42. He was carrying the flag of international jihadist group Islamic State, the FBI said.

“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,” the FBI said in a statement.

They believe he may not have acted alone.

“We do not believe that Jabbar was solely responsible,” said FBI special agent Alethea Duncan

The vehicle used was a white Ford F150 electric pick-up, an AFP correspondent on the scene said.

The New Orleans attack came 10 days after a similar car-ramming assault at a Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg that killed five and wounded more than 200. Police arrested a Saudi man and said he appeared to be mentally disturbed.

President Joe Biden called New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell “to offer full federal support following the horrific news”, the White House said.

“There is no justification for violence of any kind, and we will not tolerate any attack on any of our nation’s communities,” Biden said.

President-elect Donald Trump linked the attack to illegal immigration, giving no evidence, but police have yet to indicate the nationality of the assailant.

“When I said that the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in the country ... it turned out to be true,” Trump posted on social media.

Trump also claimed that the nation’s crime rate “is at a level that nobody has ever seen”. In fact, violent crime is sharply down across the country, according to the FBI.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry described the ramming as a “horrific act of violence”. City authorities announced a rallying point for family members flocking to check on loved ones at the University Medical Centre.

Carnage in iconic neighbourhood

In the wee hours of the year’s first day the area would have been packed with revellers celebrating in the French Quarter, a district renowned for its bars, restaurants and jazz history.

A white truck crashed through a barricade “at a very high rate of speed”, witness Jim Mowrer told CBS News.

“We were in the middle of the road and managed to run off the road onto the sidewalk and into the doorway of a building for cover. We did hear gunfire, saw police running,” he said.

“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,” he said.

“People we came across were unfortunately deceased.”

New Orleans is one of the most heavily visited destinations in the United States and the tragedy came shortly before the city hosts a major football game, known as the Sugar Bowl, featuring teams from the universities of Georgia and Notre Dame.

Policing was heavy over the New Year, according to the city, as authorities braced for big crowds.

The city police department had announced staffing at “100%, with an additional 300 officers assisting from partner law enforcement agencies”. including on horseback and using unmarked units.

The iconic French Quarter listed special deals for New Year’s, including LGBTQ parties and a drag cabaret nearby where the attack happened.

Here is what we know so far:

What happened

The assailant, as yet unidentified by police, drove a white Ford pickup truck into throngs of people celebrating the New Year in the French Quarter, the Louisiana city’s most iconic tourist district, around 3:15 am local time. He crashed the vehicle, then opened fire and died in a shootout with police, who said he drove trying to hit as many people as possible.

What is the toll

At least 10 people died in the assault and more than 35 were wounded, according to New Orleans police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick. The assailant also shot and wounded two police officers, who are described as being in stable condition.

Attacker’s motive

It was not immediately clear but the FBI said it is investigating the attack as a possible act of terrorism. Officials say the truck was also carrying at least one improvised explosive device and experts are trying to determine if they were viable. Without providing evidence President elect Donald Trump linked the attack to illegal immigration.

Attacker’s identity

The FBI have identified him as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, age 42, as the attacker. Jabbar is a US citizen and was carrying the flag of international jihadist group Islamic State.

Attack location

The car-ramming took place in the heart of the French Quarter, the historic district known for its vibrant night life with many bars restaurants and its jazz history. The French Quarter and New Orleans in general are well known for the raucous pre-Lenten street party known as Mardi Gras.

The city was also hosting tens of thousands of people who came to see a big college football game called the Sugar Bowl, which was scheduled to go ahead despite the tragedy.