After an Islamic State sympathizer carried out a devastating attack in Nice, France, in 2016, New Orleans officials vowed to enhance the security of the French Quarter, especially during bustling events like Mardi Gras. To mitigate the risk, steel columns known as bollards were installed in 2017 to restrict vehicle access to Bourbon Street. However, as New Year's Eve approached, these crucial safety barriers were removed for replacement ahead of the upcoming Super Bowl on February 9, creating a significant security vulnerability as thousands gathered to celebrate.

This gap in security was exploited by Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran who drove a truck onto a crowded sidewalk, circumventing a police vehicle serving as a temporary barricade. The tragic outcome claimed 14 lives, echoing fears long held by the city regarding potential vehicular attacks, which had been identified as a risk during security assessments in 2019.

In a deeply concerning revelation, Rob Reiter, an expert from the Security Industry Association, stated, “This was foreseeable and predictable and preventable. It’s clearly a failure of safety and security.” The ongoing threat of terrorism had been acknowledged several years prior, with assessments highlighting vulnerabilities in existing safety measures, such as the inefficacy of the bollards that often became “gummed up” with debris.

The shortcomings of the bollard systems led to incredulity among local leaders. New Orleans Councilman JP Morrell voiced his discontent, noting, “It’s very troubling that this problem was identified... and the incoming City Council was not made aware of this recommendation.” Former New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison remarked that their initial installation was meant to harden the city against similar threats and expressed his disappointment regarding the current state of readiness.

While the city has begun measures to replace the steel bollards with a new system of stainless steel barriers, questions abound as to why temporary security solutions, which the city already possessed, were not deployed during the New Year’s celebrations. Reiter further noted that had there been timely preventative actions, they could have significantly minimized the attack's impact, suggesting, “If they put the measures further back, it’s possible he would have had enough speed to get past the first set of barriers but he would have disabled the vehicle.”

Some experts, however, cautioned that the bollards alone may not have fully prevented tragedy. Harrison pointed out that the attacker was equipped with other deadly materials, which could have contributed to the devastation beyond what the vehicle could inflict.

Michael Rodriguez, vice president at 1-800-Bollards, confirmed that 106 of the new barriers were en route to New Orleans but lamented that the necessary installations ahead of the critical New Year’s Eve celebrations had not been completed in time, stating, “They weren’t installed. That’s the obstacle.” The implications of this lapse in security underscore a pressing need for improved public safety measures in high-traffic areas.

As the city grapples with the aftermath of this tragic event, officials are urged to reassess their strategies to ensure the safety of their citizens and visitors alike as they prepare for future celebrations.

For further details, refer to the original reports from the Los Angeles Times and Associated Press.