The Superdome has been closed for security checks as officials continue to debate whether to postpone tonight's Sugar Bowl.
New Orleans Stadium will host the College Football Playoff quarterfinals between Georgia and Notre Dame on Wednesday night, but the game was plunged into chaos after a truck plowed into a New Year's Eve crowd about a mile away, killing 10 people and injuring. more than 30.
People with offices in the Superdome, including officials from the Sugar Bowl and the Sun Belt Conference, were told not to come to work until further notice, according to the AP.
However, there was no immediate word that the game, scheduled to begin at 7:45 p.m. local time (8:45 p.m. ET), could be delayed, after police had previously insisted the game would go ahead. as planned.
“The Sugar Bowl Committee is devastated by the terrible events that occurred early this morning,” said Sugar Bowl Executive Director Jeff Hundley. “We are in ongoing discussions with authorities at the local, state and federal levels and will communicate more details as they become available.”
A person familiar with the situation said there were no immediate indications the game would be delayed, but that officials were waiting to receive the go-ahead from authorities that it would be safe to keep the event at the 70,000-seat stadium as scheduled.
Security officials are sweeping the Superdome as they weigh a decision about the Sugar Bowl.
At least 10 people died after a driver plowed into a large group at high speed in New Orleans
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive and fluid nature of the conversations with authorities.
The victims occurred when a driver rammed a pickup truck into a crowd of revelers in New Orleans' famous French Quarter early on New Year's Day.
The driver was killed in a shootout with police after the attack around 3:15 a.m. on Bourbon Street near Canal Street, the FBI said.
NOLA.com later named him as Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42, a Texas-born American resident.
Marcus Freeman and his Notre Dame players are at their hotel awaiting more news
The Ford electric vehicle was owned by another 42-year-old man from Houston, Texas. The truck had reportedly been rented on Turo and police are in contact with the owner who put it up for rent.
The gunman was killed by police after he rammed a truck into pedestrians celebrating the New Year, exited the vehicle and began shooting.
Authorities investigating the “mass casualty incident” say the driver displayed “very intentional behavior” after plowing into a crowd in the city's French Quarter before getting out and firing a gun.
He also appeared to be flying an ISIS flag on the back of the truck, and FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alethea Duncan said officials were investigating at least one suspected improvised explosive device at the scene.
Dozens of police officers responded to what authorities declared a “mass casualty event”
The Georgia and Notre football teams arrived in New Orleans on Sunday and stayed in downtown hotels just blocks from where the violence occurred.
The Superdome, which is about 20 blocks away, will also host the Super Bowl on February 9.
New Orleans City Council President Helena Moreno told WDSU-TV: “What you will see today at the Sugar Bowl, which will continue, is that the security perimeter around the Superdome has expanded to become a larger area. “.
'So obviously expect additional security. More police officers are coming in.