HOUSTON, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- At least ten people died and 30 others were injured after a car plowed into New Year's Eve revelers in New Orleans, in the southern U.S. state of Louisiana, authorities said on Wednesday.

The driver, a man, fired a weapon from his vehicle after hitting the crowd, injuring two police officers, New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said at a press conference.

Kirkpatrick said the incident was "very intentional behavior" since the suspect was "hell-bent on creating the carnage and damage that he did" and "trying to run over as many people as he could."

The suspect was confirmed to be dead at the scene, Fox News said. It is unclear whether he was killed exchanging fire with police or whether he took his own life.

Alethea Duncan, an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) New Orleans field office, said officials were investigating the discovery of at least one suspected improvised explosive device at the scene.

The incident happened around 3:15 a.m. (0915 GMT) at the intersection of Bourbon Street and Iberville, police said.

"There are 30 injured patients that have been transported by NOEMS (New Orleans Emergency Medical Services) and 10 fatalities. Public safety partners are responding on the scene," NOLA Ready, the city's emergency preparedness campaign said earlier in a post on social media platform X.

Meanwhile, the police chief said at least 35 were injured.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell declared the incident a "terrorist attack," but FBI agents said that has not been confirmed. Enditem

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