Security in New Orleans: Mardi Gras and Super Bowl are closer

Security in New Orleans: Mardi Gras and Super Bowl are closer

When New Orleans prepared for the beginning of his magnificent carnival season this week, the city asks for support from the Federal Government to prevent the terrible attack from repeating, in which 14 people died on New Year's Day.

Visiting President Biden

President Joe Biden will visit the city on Monday and to find out directly from Mayor Latoya Cantrell and other city officials how Washington can help. Among other things, this could include an increase in the national security level for the world -famous Carnival of New Orleans, also known as Mardi Gras.

Challenges during the carnival period

The attack on New Year fell into a busy time for New Orleans; At that time, many people celebrated on the busy Bourbon Street, while the Allstatian Sugar Bowl was scheduled for later a day, but was later postponed. The city had also prepared for the carnival, which begins with weeks full of parades, performances and festivities on Monday. In February the Super Bowl Lix is ​​the crown jewel of American sport.

Security measures and emergency

Since a large number of visitors from all over the country are expected, local companies, including restaurants and hotels, prepare for the rush of tourists with special offers and events. At the same time, this represents a security challenge that the authorities now have to face. After the attack, the governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, explained the state of emergency and wrote in his disposal that this enabled New Orleans to provide additional resources, while the city is preparing for "hundreds of thousands of visitors in the weeks before the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras".

Federal support for carnival

The mayor emphasized that the city had asked for Federal help to consult a tactical expert who can analyze the city and determine which weak points there are that may need to be addressed. "We are trying to do everything necessary to ensure public security," said Cantrell.

Evaluation of security measures

She added that she had asked the federal government to start the security level for Mardi Gras from Sear 2 to Sear 1. This is a five -stage evaluation system that determines whether events require federal support in terms of security. The Super Bowl is currently classified as Sear 1, the highest level that is reserved for significant events with national or international importance.

Increasing security precautions

The New Orleans police also strengthened their measures and announced that there is a “comprehensive security plan” for the first parade on Monday. "We upgrade our security measures and strategically place our resources to ensure that the event is safe and gratifying for everyone," said a police spokesman.

Inadequate safety barriers

An essential point of the examination of the New Year's attack will be the reason why there was no stable barriers to protect the celebrant in the busy French quarter on the day of the attack. In a report from 2019, private security advice pointed out that the risk of terrorist attacks in this quarter, in particular mass shootings and vehicle shootings, was "high, but moderate".

FBI investigations to the stop

At a press conference, the FBI revealed that the perpetrator, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, had visited twice in the months before New Orlean's attack and filmed the streets with the help of meta smart glasses and planned the attack. The investigation also includes his trips to Egypt and Canada as well as further visits to Atlanta and Tampa. All 14 victims of the New Year attack have now been identified.