Ahead of Trump's Inauguration, Suspected Terror Incident in US... Washington DC Security Tightened

New Orleans vehicle ramming incident scene. Photo by Yonhap News

Security around Washington DC was significantly tightened after a suspected terrorist incident occurred in the United States on New Year's Day.

The Washington DC Police Department stated on X (formerly Twitter) on the 1st (local time), "There are no known threats to Washington DC, but considering recent incidents, we have strengthened security measures throughout the city," adding, "The community will notice an increased presence of deployed personnel across the city."

On that day, at around 3:15 a.m., a pickup truck rammed into a crowd gathered to celebrate the New Year on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, a busy area of New Orleans, Louisiana, killing 15 people and injuring more than 30.

The perpetrator was a 42-year-old U.S. military veteran from Texas who died after a shootout with the police. Explosives and an ISIS (Islamic State, the name used by the U.S. for IS) flag were found in the suspect’s vehicle.

Also, at around 8:40 a.m., a Tesla Cybertruck caught fire at the entrance of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, resulting in one death and seven injuries.

Since the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to take place in Washington DC on the 20th, security measures are being strengthened in preparation for any possible incidents.

The Washington DC Police said, "As the major event approaches, the police will continue to cooperate with local and federal partners to assess potential threats and make necessary adjustments to protect the community."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.