[As New Orleans prepares to kick off its extravagant Carnival season, the city is asking for federal help in ensuring there is not a repeat of the horrific truck-ramming that killed 14 people early on New Year’s Day.
President Joe Biden is set to visit on Monday and is expected to hear directly from Mayor LaToya Cantrell and other city officials on what Washington can do, including potentially raising the federal security level for its world-famous Carnival, also called Mardi Gras.
The attack came during a busy season for New Orleans, with the city gearing up for a series of events, including parades, parties, and the Super Bowl. Authorities are now under pressure to address the security challenge posed by the influx of visitors.
The city has requested federal assistance in mapping out the city and determining weak spots that could be targeted or need further security, as well as reviewing existing security measures, such as road barriers and barricades.
Mayor Cantrell has also submitted a federal request to upgrade Mardi Gras from a SEAR 2 to a SEAR 1 designation, which would require more extensive security support. The current week is critical for the city, with the first parade scheduled on Monday and the Super Bowl scheduled for February.
New Orleans police are stepping up measures, saying they have a comprehensive security plan in place for the first parade and for all parades going forward. However, the issue of how the attack was carried out and whether it could have been prevented remains under investigation.
The FBI is currently investigating the attack, with Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the attacker, having visited New Orleans twice in the months prior to the attack. He used Meta smart glasses to film the street and plan the attack, and had also stayed at a rental home in New Orleans and visited other cities, including Egypt and Canada.
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