Forgive me if I ask stupid questions here. I'm just finishing my first cup of coffee.

From what I gather this was a street celebration for New Year's Eve. In which case, the street would be closed and cordoned off (or at least it should have been).

The security consultant in me is wondering about the following:

• Was there perimeter security (Armed police or security at each access street).
• Was vehicle access control in place? (Jersey barriers or other hard barriers at each access street, or surrounding the cordoned off celebration area)
• Were drones on station to be used for over-watch?
• Were mobile surveillance camera trailers in place?
• Was there a command center with organized communications, video feeds, drone control, and established coms protocols in place?
• Were all LE agencies on scene able to communicate with each other? (One common issue is that multiple LE agencies may not have each other's air. In other words, they use radio coms on different frequencies.).

Here are some issues that jump out at me.

1. Terrorists are more likely to strike during dates or events of national or regional significance. Obviously, New Years Eve fits that description.
2. Terrorists wish to instill terror, that is why they are called terrorists. Acts of violence are more likely to frighten if they injure or kill large groups of people who are engaged in activities that most would consider safe.
3. Even if the attacker was motivated by something other than terrorism (an unresolved grievance, for example), large crowds are an attractive target.
4. Given the above known facts, it is obvious to the most casual of observers that a street celebration for New Years Eve is a desirable target.
5. While it is EXTREMELY difficult to properly secure such events, limiting vehicle access is a no-brainer.

Therefore the question most on my mind is this: How did this clown managed to get a pick-up inside the perimeter in the first place?
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/01/01/president-biden-confirms-fbi-is-investigating-new-orleans-attack-as-act-terrorism/