Biden to Visit New Orleans Amid FBI Release of Attack Video and Bollard Concerns

President Biden's upcoming visit to New Orleans comes in the wake of a devastating attack that occurred on Bourbon Street, where U.S. Army veteran Shamsud-din Jabbar killed 14 individuals while pledging allegiance to ISIS. A 2017 report highlighted Bourbon Street as a potential target for terrorism, prompting the installation of protective bollards. However, the very bollards intended to safeguard pedestrians were undergoing replacement when the attack happened, raising serious concerns about the city's preparedness and response to such threats.

A confidential report from 2019 indicated that officials were alerted to the urgent need to repair and enhance the bollards, which had become inoperable due to debris. The New York-based security consultancy Interfor International emphasized the necessity for immediate improvements, yet the management district did not follow up on these recommendations. Although Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced that repairs were underway shortly after the report, documentation revealed that as of 2024, the city was still in the process of considering replacements for the bollards.

In the aftermath of the attack, the New Orleans police stated they had implemented measures to secure the area, including the positioning of patrol cars and officers. However, they acknowledged the limitations of the bollards in preventing the tragedy, stating that additional barriers that could have been used on peak nights like New Year's Eve were not deployed. While previous reports have praised bollards for their life-saving potential in similar scenarios, there is ongoing debate about the adequacy of the newly installed ones, with Mayor Cantrell calling for expert assessment on their structural integrity.

In the latest updates, the French Quarter Management District clarified that it had no role in the selection or contracting of the bollards, placing the responsibility squarely on the Mayor's Office and the Department of Public Works.