Louisiana’s Attorney General announced Monday a “full review” of New Orleans’ security plans in the wake of the New Year’s Day terror attack on Bourbon Street that killed 14 revelers and injured dozens more.
State Attorney General Liz Murrill ordered the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation to examine the city’s security plans for New Year’s Eve and the Sugar Bowl after consulting with the governor, she said in a statement.
The move comes after criticism and questions about New Orleans’ security protocol, in which it failed to deploy anti-vehicle barriers that it had owned for years. Additionally, other barriers, known as bollards, had recently been removed because they were malfunctioning and needed to be replaced.
“The People of Louisiana deserve answers. We are committed to getting a full and complete picture of what was done or not done, and more importantly, what needs to change so we can prevent this from ever happening again,” Murrill said.
She said the review was expected to explore all aspects of planning and execution of security measures for New Year’s Eve celebrations and the Sugar Bowl held on New Year’s Day at the Superdome. She said funding, risk assessments and security policies would come under scrutiny.
Murrill said police and city officials have pledged their support for the review.