San Francisco event organizers were on edge after an attack in New Orleans, LA, left 15 dead on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, a driver in a pickup truck flying an ISIS flag, who officials said was “hell-bent on carnage,” sped through a crowd of pedestrians in New Orleans’ French Quarter district, killing 15 and injuring 30. The act is being investigated as a New Year’s Day terrorist attack.
Close to 10,000 people gathered at the Breakfast of Champions block party in San Francisco, and while the concern is usually that people get too intoxicated, the incident in New Orleans put the event’s team on high alert.
“God forbid that has to happen, but we have security measures in place,” said Ahmad Shawa, Breakfast of Champions’ director of security.
According to the FBI, the driver of the vehicle in New Orleans was dead after a shoot-out with police. Law enforcement officials said he has been identified as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar.
Louisiana law enforcement and the FBI said they don’t believe he acted alone but did not add if it was part of a broader threat.
Frank Gasparovic from Walnut Creek was visiting New Orleans the day of the attack.
His hotel was just three blocks away from where it happened.
“It was a shock to learn of the attack,” Gasparovic said. “We have not gone over there; we’ve been told to stay away.”‘
So far, the San Francisco Police Department has not issued any plans to change its security posture after the attack in New Orleans.
Source: NBC Bay Area
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