Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced Monday that she has directed the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI) to conduct an in-depth study of the New Year’s Day terror attack in New Orleans. This investigation will assess the adequacy of security measures and coordination among local, state, and federal entities, alongside examining operational failures that may have contributed to the tragedy.
Murrill consulted with Governor Jeff Landry before initiating the LBI investigation. The review will focus on areas including existing security assessments, funding sources and allocations, the implementation of security measures, and coordination among governmental agencies. In a statement, Murrill emphasized the need for transparency and accountability, stating, “The People of Louisiana deserve answers… We are committed to a full and complete picture of what was done or not done, and, more importantly, what needs to change to prevent this from ever happening again.”
The New Orleans City Council has announced its own parallel investigation. Council members J.P. Morrell, Joe Giarrusso, and Lesli Harris issued a joint statement supporting Murrill’s efforts while detailing their plans to examine the “contracting, spending, and execution” of security measures in the French Quarter. Morrell specifically highlighted concerns about the implementation of substandard safety infrastructure, referencing reports from 2019 that flagged vulnerabilities, including ineffective bollards currently in use that can only withstand crashes at low speeds.
Councilman Oliver Thomas, who leads the Public Works and Criminal Justice committees, has scheduled a joint meeting for Wednesday to address these issues. However, he cautioned against the potential economic fallout of public discussions that could impact confidence in the city. Meanwhile, Councilman Eugene Green expressed a commitment to withholding sensitive security details to avoid aiding potential threats.
Both investigations aim to identify failures that led to the attack and propose measures to enhance future security while balancing public transparency and safety concerns.