New Orleans is under strict security measures ahead of the Super Bowl as over 125,000 visitors — including President Trump and celebs like Taylor Swift — are descending the city just a month after a horrifying New Year’s Day terror attack left 14 people dead.
At least 2,000 law enforcement officers — including rooftop snipers — are present for Sunday’s Super Bowl LIX while, Homeland Security Investigations officials are preparing to squash any potential threats.
“The elephant in the room is the attack that occurred on Jan. 1. We would be foolish if we didn’t use what we’ve learned from that to inform how we go forward and how we adapt plans … to make sure we can account for gaps and alternative locations that may be of concern now in that post-attack timeline,” HSI special agent in charge Eric DeLaune told Fox News Digital.
In the aftermath of the terror attack on Bourbon Street, which also injured 57 people, officials planned for a “significantly larger presence” for the championship game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, especially given that Trump would be in attendance, DeLaune said.
Meanwhile, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem visited New Orleans ahead of the game on Monday and insisted there had been “no credible threats” targeting the blockbuster event.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell echoed the sentiment, saying that after over a year of preparations, the city was more than ready to host.
“We’re going above and beyond what we’ve seen in the past when we’ve hosted previously,” Cantrell said.
“We know we’re safer than we’ve ever been before.”
In addition to the extra manpower, no vehicle traffic will be permitted on Bourbon Street, the city’s most famous thoroughfare. The ISIS-inspired New Year’s Day terrorist used a rented Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck to ram the crowded street.
Several other streets will also be blocked off to accommodate Trump’s visit to “provide a safe corridor for him,” New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said last week.
Armed federal air marshals will also be stationed throughout the city, scanning for suspicious people or activities and guarding against drones, which are prohibited from flying above downtown New Orleans and the Caesars Superdome.
There will be FBI and Secret Service rooftop snipers and armed SWAT vehicles positioned around the stadium and throughout downtown, officials said.
The perimeter will include blast barriers and trucks will be required to pass through large X-ray machines typically used at border crossings. There will also be more types of physical barriers protecting entry points into the arena, officials said.
Additionally, dozens of technicians and over 100 bomb-sniffing dogs have been scouring the 400,000 square foot Superdome and its over 70,000 seats leading up to game day.
“They’re going to go from top to bottom on that building to make sure it’s clear and it’s safe. They open every door, check under every seat,” DeLaune said.
The New Orleans Police Department hired former New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton and his team from high-profile security firm Teneo to help ensure the Big Easy is safe.
“No specific or credible threats” have surfaced, NFL security chief Cathy Lanier said Wednesday.
With Post wires.
