New Orleans bosses told massacre street bollards didn't work...5 years ago

ANGER is growing over the policing of New Orlean's New Year celebrations after it emerged a report five years ago warned of a deadly vehicular terror attack.

- Christopher Bucktin

On Wednesday, 14 people were mown down and killed with 35 more people injured by army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar, who had sworn his allegiance to ISIS.

The 42-year-old was able to drive a rented pick-up truck down Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, where thousands were celebrating the start of 2025.

It has now been revealed that a November 2019 assessment by Interfor International for the French Quarter Management District flagged serious vulnerabilities in the area's defences.

The report focused on potential vehicular ramming and shooter scenarios and urged immediate upgrades to street barriers.

The report named Bourbon Street and stated: "The bollards designed to block vehicles do not appear to work."

Don Aviv, CEO of Interfor International, said: "I am highly doubtful that such a ramming attack could have happened during Mardi Gras [in New Orleans].