New Orleans officials attempt to explain security lapses in wake of Bourbon Street tragedy

Several years ago, bollards were installed at every intersection along Bourbon Street. But early yesterday morning, they were missing at the time that Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove onto the street and plowed into the crowd. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell says shortly after the bollards were installed, Mardi Gras beads and other impediments caused the bollards to malfunction.

“The New Orleans Police Department, of course, deemed them inefficient because they did not operate the way that they were intended to do,” Cantrell said.

Cantrell says work began on a new bollard system in November and the project is expected to be complete in a month.

“Bollards were not up because they are near completion, with the expectation of being completed before Super Bowl,” Cantrell said.

In the meantime, New Orleans Police placed a single patrol vehicle blocking off Bourbon Street at Canal Street. Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says Jabbar defeated that plan.

“This particular terrorist drove around onto the sidewalk and got around the parked target. We had a car there, we had barriers there, we had officers there, and they STILL got around,” Kirpatrick explained.