UN chief condemns U.S. truck attack

The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has condemned the truck attack that killed at least 15 people in the city of New Orleans, the United States.

A 42-year-old man had intentionally driven a pick-up truck into a crowd of people celebrating the New Year in the city’s French quarter shortly after 3:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday.

The suspect was killed in a police shootout that injured two officers.

His potential allegiance to the Islamic State extremists is under investigation after a flag of the terrorist organisation and improvised explosives were found in the rented vehicle and other locations nearby, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the attack in New Orleans.

“He condemns the attack, where a driver struck a crowd gathered to celebrate the New Year, reportedly killing at least 15 people and injuring over 30 others,” Guterres Associate Spokesperson, Florencia Soto Nino-Martinez, said on Thursday in New York.

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“He extends his condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives and to the Government and people of Louisiana and the United States.

“He also wishes a swift recovery to those persons injured.”

The U.S. authorities are also investigating possible links between the outrage and a deadly vehicle explosion in Las Vegas on Wednesday morning.

A Tesla Cybertruck exploded near the entrance of the Trump International Hotel on New Year’s Day.

Police said the driver was killed and seven others were injured when a combination of fireworks, gas tanks, and camping fuel was detonated.

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