A fire at an Airbnb in New Orleans has been linked to the horror New Year’s Day attack which killed 10 people, as officials suggested it was used by the suspect.

Earlier today, as people were celebrating the arrival of 2025, an SUV ploughed into those out celebrating. Ten were killed and another 35 injured, in what the mayor has described as a terrorist attack.

While the horror was unfolding, dozens of people were evacuated from the St Rocha area or the city. Sources within the local police force told Nola they believe an Airbnb in the area was being rented by the suspect behind the sickening Bourbon Street attack.

At least ten people have died in the horror (

Image:

AFP via Getty Images)

The overnight attack 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 was later confirmed by police the driver of the vehicle then got out and fired at officers with two injured. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the driver was “hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage he did.”

She added: “It was very intentional behavior. This man was trying to run over as many people as he could.” Two officers were wounded and are in stable condition. They were in addition to 33 people injured in the vehicle attack.

Derick Fleming, chief bellhop at the nearby Crowne Plaza hotel said: “When I got to work this morning, it was kind of pandemonium everywhere. There were a couple of bodies on the ground covered up. Police were looking for bombs in garbage cans.”

President Joe Biden said: “My heart goes out to the victims and their families who were simply trying to celebrate the holiday. There is no justification for violence of any kind, and we will not tolerate any attack on any of our nation’s communities.”

The attack is the latest example of a vehicle being used as a weapon to carry out mass violence, a trend that has alarmed law enforcement officials and that can be difficult to protect against. A 50-year-old Saudi doctor plowed into a Christmas market teeming with holiday shoppers in the German city of Magdeburg last month, killing four women and a 9-year-old boy.