An SUV has ploughed into revellers celebrating New Year in New Orleans killing 10 people and injuring at least 35 others in what the mayor called a terrorist attack.

The incident occurred at the intersection of Bourbon Street, famous for its many bars and clubs, and Iberville at around 3.15am local time in New Orleans, Louisiana, with multiple people seen lying on the ground injured.

Mayor LaToya Cantrell confirmed the incident was a “terrorist attack” and she asked for people to “stay clear from Bourbon Street and eight blocks around.” She added: “it’s very active and a unified command is in place right now.”

It has now been confirmed by police that the driver of the vehicle then got out and fired at officers with two injured. Chief Anne Kirkpatrick- of New Orleans police said that the driver had gone at “high speed” and tried to hit as many people as possible. She described the driver as “hellbent” on causing “carnage”.

She stated: “A man drove a pick-up truck down Bourbon Street at a very high speed and it was very intentional behaviour, this man was trying to run over as many people as possible.” She added: “I can also say this man, the perpetrator, he fired on our officers from his vehicle, when he crashed his vehicle, two of our officers have been shot, they are stable and we will give you an update on them.”

Alethea Duncan, an assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s New Orleans field office, said officials were investigating the discovery of at least one suspected improvised explosive device at the scene.

New Orleans city has stated: “Mass Casualty Event on Canal and Bourbon Street. The 8th District is currently working a mass casualty incident involving a vehicle that drove into a large crowd on Canal and Bourbon Street. There are 30 injured patients that have been transported by NOEMS and 10 fatalities. Public safety partners are responding on scene. Updates will follow as they are received.”

New Orleans Police Department has so far stated that a truck is reported to have run down the group on the famous street. It was unknown how many people were killed or injured, but unconfirmed reports on social media suggested a “mass casualty” incident. Footage shows fleets of emergency service vehicles on Bourbon Street which has been closed and paramedics are on the scene currently. Images also show a scene of devastation with injured people lying on the ground and one clip appears to hear sounds of gunfire.

A New Orleans Police spokesperson told CBS News “initial reports show a car may have ploughed into a group of people. Injuries are unknown but there are reported fatalities.” And New Orleans authorities also stated: “There has been a mass casualty incident on Canal and Bourbon Street. Get yourself away from the area.”

Jim Mowrer, a US Army vet who claims he was on Bourbon Street with his wife at the time of the incident, said on X that he saw an SUV ‘speeding’ down the road and ‘running people over’.

He wrote: “Was on bourbon street in New Orleans went my wife tonight about 20 minutes ago. SUV came down speeding and running people over. Mass casualty event, tried to first aid but most were dead. Estimate double digit deaths.” Thousands of people have been in the area for New Year’s Eve celebrations. There was a golden-lit fleur de lis, a public concert stage and people enjoying themselves along Bourbon Street.

A witness described it as the “most horrific thing I’ve ever seen” with bodies on the ground after the vehicle struck them. They wrote on social media: “Yeah it was crazy. I was walking south on bourbon street, probably 75 yds away from canal st and I heard a loud noise. As I looked up I could see a truck crashing through the barricades.

“Right when I saw it I got ran into by several people, but I pushed them off and as I did the truck flew by me. I watched it speed by wondering if it was going to swerve and hit me and contemplating if I was going to have to jump out of the way. It sphosed by me and I watched it run into a crowd and then I saw people flying as it hit them. Everyone was running away, so I did as well, as I exited bourbon st onto canal, I could see at least two people seriously injured, unconscious and bloody. It was the most horrific thing I’ve ever seen.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry stated: “A horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street earlier this morning. Please join Sharon and I in praying for all the victims and first responders on scene. I urge all near the scene to avoid the area.”

And a journalist wrote on X: “NOPD source states that as many as 10 fatalities after driver in pickup truck plowed into crowd on Bourbon Street. Multiple more injuries. Mayor and police chief on scene.” Another working for WWLTV stated: “We’re hearing reports of numerous people being my struck by a vehicle and shots being fired in the French Quarter. The Orleans Parish Coroner has arrived on Canal St. “

People awaited the final countdown to 2025 in the French Quarter with a chilly night of music, laughter, beverages and fireworks along the curve of the Mississippi River before the tragic incident occurred a few hours later. Tourism officials said hotel occupancy rates were high in the city, both for the holiday and from an influx of college football fans in the city for Wednesday’s Allstate Sugar Bowl between the University of Georgia and Notre Dame University.