In the aftermath of a tragic attack in 2016, wherein an Islamic State supporter drove a truck through a Bastille Day celebration, New Orleans officials made it a priority to safeguard the city’s iconic French Quarter. This area, known for its lively atmosphere, is particularly crowded during major festivities like Mardi Gras.
In response to these concerns, by the following year, security measures were enacted in the form of steel bollards. These barriers were designed to limit vehicle access to Bourbon Street, with retractable features that allowed for deliveries to local establishments. However, the bollards soon encountered issues; they became jammed due to the accumulation of Mardi Gras beads, beer, and other debris, causing malfunctions in their operation.
When New Year’s Eve arrived, the bollards had been removed for replacement in anticipation of the Super Bowl, which New Orleans is set to host on February 9. The absence of these barriers presented a significant security vulnerability as countless revelers filled Bourbon Street. This gap was tragically exploited by Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran with ties to extremist groups, who drove a truck onto the sidewalk early Wednesday, bypassing a police car acting as a temporary barricade, resulting in the deaths of 14 individuals.
This incident was a stark reminder of the fears that had loomed since the horrific vehicular attack in Nice, France, in 2016, where 86 people lost their lives. Experts in security measures, such as Rob Reiter, have indicated that such an event was foreseeable and could have been prevented or mitigated with proper vehicle barriers in place. Reiter criticized the city’s lack of adequate safety measures and maintenance of the bollard system, calling for greater responsibility in the protection of public spaces.
The perceived terrorism threat to New Orleans has been on the radar for years. Back in 2019, a firm from New York was contracted to perform a thorough security assessment of the French Quarter. The findings pointed out vulnerabilities, including the inefficacy of the existing bollards, yet the recommendations for immediate improvements were not communicated effectively to the current city council, raising concerns among officials about missed opportunities to enhance safety.
Michael Harrison, the former police superintendent, mentioned that previous plans aimed to reinforce bollard security by using larger public service vehicles like trash trucks to block unauthorized access effectively. He recalled the lesson from Nice and emphasized the need for proactive measures. However, Reiter noted that the city did not maintain the infrastructure that allowed the bollards to function properly, leading to their eventual failure.
A local firm responsible for overseeing the installation of the bollards acknowledged that, although the system performed adequately at first, subsequent inspections revealed blockages due to debris. The designing company, Heald LTD, insisted that basic maintenance was all that was needed to keep the bollards operational. City officials are in the process of replacing the original bollards with different stainless steel barriers ahead of the Super Bowl.
Questions remain regarding the decision not to deploy temporary barriers that the city already owned for New Year’s celebrations. Reiter suggested that, had temporary measures been implemented, the situation might have been significantly different, potentially reducing the number of casualties. Harrison cautioned, however, that the bollards alone might not have been fully effective, recalling that the assailant had additional weapons and explosives in the truck, which could have caused harm even if vehicle barriers were in place.
Michael Rodriguez, from a company specializing in bollards, noted that they had recently expedited an order of 106 stainless steel bollards for Bourbon Street. While the city requested a swift installation, the tragic event highlighted the stark reality: without proper deployment, the safety barriers offered no protection. Rodriguez emphasized the importance of having these barriers in place to enhance safety during crowded public celebrations.
