FBI, DHS Warn of New Orleans-Style Vehicle Ramming Attacks by Copycat Terrorists

Similar attacks are particularly concerning due to their simplicity and the accessibility of vehicle.

A black flag with white lettering lies on the ground rolled up behind a pickup truck that a man drove into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing and injuring a number of people, on the early morning of Jan. 1, 2025. Gerald Herbert, File/AP Photo

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have issued a public warning, raising concerns about potential copycat vehicle ramming attacks like the New Year’s Day incident in New Orleans that left 14 dead and dozens injured.

“The FBI and DHS are concerned about possible copycat or retaliatory attacks due to the persistent appeal of vehicle ramming as a tactic for aspiring violent extremist attackers,” the agencies noted in a joint alert issued on Jan. 13.