New Delhi: Following the 1 January attack in New Orleans, the Biden-Harris Administration has announced additional federal resources to aid the city in preparing for major upcoming events, including Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl. The decision comes as the administration continues to provide support in the wake of the attack ‘conducted by a homegrown violent extremist inspired by ISIS’, a White House press release.
President Biden has directed his team to ensure every possible resource is available to support the state and local response, ensuring the safety and security of residents and visitors. The President and Administration members have contacted Louisiana’s Governor, New Orleans’ Mayor, and other state and local officials to ensure they have the resources and support needed after this attack.
The Mardi Gras parades and related events, scheduled between 21 February and 4 March, and Super Bowl LIX on 9 February have been upgraded to a Special Event Assessment Rating of 1 (SEAR 1), signifying significant events requiring extensive federal interagency support. The administration will leverage all available tools to address potential local capability gaps, ensuring safe and secure events. “The federal government provides a federal coordination team and specialized assistance for all SEAR 1 events,” the release noted.
Federal assistance may include explosive detection canine teams, cyber risk assessments, venue screening and field intelligence teams, air security, and tactical operations support, complementing the efforts of state and local governments.
Since the attack, the federal government has been actively involved in investigating the incident and providing resources to the victims, their families, and the New Orleans community, the release added. The FBI, Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Defense are collaborating on all aspects of the investigation. The FBI has established a command post in New Orleans, deployed additional special agents, analysts, and bomb technicians, and is providing victim services, including interpretation services in multiple languages.