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New Orleans: No bollards at the time of the death drive

(Bild: APA/Chris Granger)

The suspected terrorist apparently had an easy time during the attack in New Orleans: As the "New York Times" reported, bollards that could have prevented the death drive on New Year's Eve had been missing in the metropolis. These were to be replaced.

The perpetrator drove around a police car that was supposed to block access instead, according to authorities on Wednesday (local time). The bollards, which normally block access to Bourbon Street in the popular nightlife district during major events in New Orleans, were not installed on New Year's Eve.

Pictures of the attack:

Replacement due to Super Bowl in February
They were to be replaced in preparation for the Super Bowl (final of the US American professional football league), which New Orleans is hosting at the beginning of February. A police car was parked at the site as a replacement. Other barriers and police patrols were also deployed to protect pedestrians.

Further circumstances are still being investigated
"We actually had a plan, but the terrorist shattered it," said New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick. The possibility that someone could drive around the police car was "not something we thought we had to consider", added the police chief of the affected district, Lejon Roberts. How exactly the perpetrator managed to steer a pick-up truck past the security measures and into the crowd is being investigated.