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Crime

Dozens injured after car plows into New Orleans crowd

February 26, 2017

Police in New Orleans say up to 28 people were injured on Saturday when a vehicle drove into crowds watching a parade. One person is reportedly in custody; terrorism is not suspected.

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New Orleans Mardi Gras Pickup Truck rast in die Menge
Image: picture alliance/AP Photo/G. Herbert

Dozens were injured on Saturday evening when a vehicle plowed into a crowd watching a parade in the US city of New Orleans, in what police said did not appear to be an act of terrorism.

Karte New Orleans Louisiana DEU ENG

New Orleans Police Department spokeswoman Ambria Washington said that "initial reports show so far that about a dozen people are in critical condition," the local Times-Picayune newspaper reported. She said the number of injured may increase as an investigation continues.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said there were no life-threatening injuries. 

The vehicle hit a crowd watching the Krewe of Endymion parade in the Mid-City section of New Orleans, a part of the city's Mardi Gras celebrations.

Police Chief Michael Harrison said the male driver was taken into custody and is being investigated for driving while intoxicated. "We suspect that that subject was highly intoxicated," he said. Police do not suspect terrorism as a motive.

Among those injured are a police officer and a child. Five of the injured are in a serious condition.

cw/jr (AP, Reuters, AFP)