NEW ORLEANS — Police automobiles are lined up within the slender streets. Officers toting massive firearms stand at alert. Obstacles block many entrances to Bourbon Road.
Behind two squad automobiles parked horizontally in entrance of a big truck that blocks the doorway to New Orleans’ famed road, a memorial greets guests.
Guests view the memorial for the victims of the terrorist assault alongside Canal Road close to the intersection of Bourbon Road in New Orleans.
(Matthew Hinton / Related Press)
Flowers, candles, notes and 14 white crosses with blue hearts honor the victims of a Jan. 1 terrorist assault on Bourbon Road, the place an Islamic State-inspired attacker drove a truck down the busy road. The tragic incident has come again into focus one month later as safety is ratcheting again up with New Orleans internet hosting Tremendous Bowl LIX on Feb. 9.
With an estimated 100,000 guests anticipated to flock to town, organizers presently “haven’t any particular credible threats to this occasion,” Division of Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem mentioned Monday at a information convention.
Guests will probably be with “a sea of blue,” Anne Kirkpatrick, the superintendent of the New Orleans Police Division mentioned.
There will probably be 2,000 regulation enforcement officers on obligation across the metropolis, together with 200 state troopers and 350 nationwide guard troops who will patrol areas across the French Quarter, close to the conference heart, the Superdome and different areas.
“I’m assured that the most secure place to be this weekend,” NFL chief safety officer Cathy Lanier mentioned, “would be the areas below the safety umbrella this staff has put collectively.”
The safety framework was developed over the earlier two years with enter from the native, state and federal ranges. Lanier mentioned the staff “reviewed and re-reviewed” its plan after the tragic occasion wherein not less than 35 different individuals had been injured along with the 14 victims and the attacker was killed in a shootout with police.
Louisiana governor Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency after the assault and issued an govt order final week to extend safety approaching Tremendous Bowl festivities.
A part of the French Quarter was designated as an enhanced safety zone from Feb. 5-10, the place “any damaging, explosive supplies,” backpack coolers and ice chests are prohibited and any baggage bigger than a clutch purse are discouraged and topic to go looking.
Virtually all automobiles are prohibited from coming into the improved safety zone that encompasses about 14 blocks of the favored space full of bars, eating places, outlets and distributors the place busking musicians play jazz tunes on horns.
Nevertheless, guests are permitted to hold hid weapons within the enhanced safety zone below Louisiana state regulation. Many retailer home windows in the French Quarter have massive “no firearms” stickers. Hid weapons are prohibited in bars, casinos, authorities buildings and venues together with the Superdome.
“We went by way of nice lengths by way of the chief order that we put collectively to stability the freedoms and constitutional rights which are enshrined on this state whereas ensuring we’ve sufficient safety to ensure we’re in a position to defend our residents,” Landry mentioned Monday.
Town is internet hosting its eleventh Tremendous Bowl, tied for probably the most for any web site, and has expertise with the sport at its highest stakes.
New Orleans hosted the Tremendous Bowl in 2002, the primary after the 9/11 terrorist assaults. An overhauled safety plan was so tight that Paul McCartney, who was performing earlier than the sport, was held exterior the stadium till authorities acquired further permission to let the musical icon enter.
The Related Press contributed to this report.