The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has condemned the truck attack that killed at least 15 people in the city of New Orleans, the United States.
A 42-year-old man had intentionally driven a pick-up truck into a crowd of people celebrating the New Year in the city’s French quarter shortly after 3:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday.
The suspect was killed in a police shootout that injured two officers.
His potential allegiance to the Islamic State extremists is under investigation after a flag of the terrorist organisation and improvised explosives were found in the rented vehicle and other locations nearby, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the attack in New Orleans.
“He condemns the attack, where a driver struck a crowd gathered to celebrate the New Year, reportedly killing at least 15 people and injuring over 30 others,” Guterres Associate Spokesperson, Florencia Soto Nino-Martinez, said on Thursday in New York.
“He extends his condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives and to the Government and people of Louisiana and the United States.
“He also wishes a swift recovery to those persons injured.”
The U.S. authorities are also investigating possible links between the outrage and a deadly vehicle explosion in Las Vegas on Wednesday morning.
A Tesla Cybertruck exploded near the entrance of the Trump International Hotel on New Year’s Day.
Police said the driver was killed and seven others were injured when a combination of fireworks, gas tanks, and camping fuel was detonated.