By Dakota Antelman — [email protected]
Concord police are “closely monitoring” the investigation into Wednesday’s deadly terrorist attack in New Orleans as they continue preparations for this year’s 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution.
The New Year’s Day attack happened, investigators said, when a man drove a pickup truck around a police cruiser and into a crowd. The attack killed 14 people and was the latest in a line of incidents where assailants used vehicles to target large crowds. At least 35 people were hurt.
New Orleans’ famed Bourbon Street was closed to vehicular traffic at the time of Wednesday’s attack and was packed with pedestrians. The driver ultimately died in a shootout with police.
In Concord, Capt. Brian Goldman said police are monitoring the situation “to see what areas they have identified after the fact that played a role in the outcome.”
Local events in mid-April are expected to draw thousands of spectators and parade participants. Though officials have their eye on Louisiana, police were already wary of vehicle threats before this latest incident.
“[W]e had already planned for heavy-duty blocking vehicles to be in place to protect the parade route,” Goldman said.
Many cities and towns, including Concord, have used large public works vehicles to wall off major events in recent years. Those types of trucks were not in use in the area where the New Orleans driver allegedly started his attack.
This year, Goldman said, police will significantly expand their use of heavy blocking trucks. Police also plan to restrict vehicle access through a large part of Concord north of Route 2.
Federal aid
Police Chief Thomas Mulcahy, in a December 16 presentation to the Select Board, said federal aid for events on the scale of the Concord250 celebration has included K-9 explosive detection teams, air security and tactical operations support, and cyber risk assessments.
Mulcahy said local officials are working with state and federal authorities on their security plans. Come April, he said, officials will adjust depending on real-time intelligence and crowd sizes.
For all the people in the crowd, cell service could be a problem. Mulcahy said officials plan to supplement Concord’s spotty coverage with portable cell towers and other technology.
After recent events, Goldman said local police “are working closely with our state and federal partners to ensure we have addressed any potential gaps or risks that need attention.”
He said police are “constantly evaluating” plans and addressing areas as they identify them. “This includes adding additional heavy blocking vehicles and adding heavy safety barricades to the parade route and road closures as needed,” Goldman said.
“[W]e are paying attention to what just happened and are taking the proper steps to be as prepared as we can be,” said the captain.
