New Orleans has held a vigil to mourn the lives of the 14 people killed when a truck was driven into revellers celebrating the new year.
Some of the relatives of those killed were among those who gathered on Saturday night on Bourbon Street, the famous French Quarter thoroughfare where the attack took place,
The vigil began near a makeshift memorial with pictures of the victims, candles, teddy bears and flowers carefully laid out on the street.
The families held each and cried – but when a brass band began playing, the sorrow transformed into celebration as the crowd danced and followed the music.
People crowding Bourbon Street near the intersection of Canal Street. Pic: AP
A second-line brass band performing at the vigil. Pic: Reuters
The New Orleans coroner’s office has identified 13 of the 14 victims, including British citizen Edward Pettifer.
The 31-year-old, from west London, was the stepson of Tiggy Legge-Bourke, who was Prince William and Prince Harry’s nanny between 1993 and 1999.
William yesterday paid tribute to Mr Pettifer, saying he was “shocked and saddened” by his “tragic” death.
Husband and wife Louis and Cathy Tenedorio beside tributes to the victims, including their son. Pic: Reuters
A mourner places a candle at the vigil Pic: Reuters
Cathy Tenedorio, whose 25-year-old son Matthew died in the New Year’s Day attack, said she felt moved by the condolences and kindness at the vigil.
“This is the most overwhelming response of love, an outpouring of love,” she said. “I’m floating through it all.”
Autrele Felix, whose friend Nicole Perez was killed, said: “It means a lot, to see that our city comes together when there’s a real tragedy. We all become one.”
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A woman pays her respects. Pic: Reuters
Pic: Reuters
Others said getting into the party spirit was the best way to honour the victims.
“Because that’s what they were down here to do, they were having a good time,” said Kari Mitten, a life-long New Orleans resident.
The cause of death of all 14 victims has been listed as “blunt force injuries” by the coroner’s office.
Around 30 other people were injured in the attack, which saw former US army solider Shamsud-Din Jabbar drive a rented truck into crowds of people in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
Jabbar proclaimed his support for the Islamic State in videos posted online hours before the incident. He was shot dead in a firefight with police at the scene.
Of those injured, 13 remain in hospital and eight are in intensive care, a spokesperson for the University Medical Center New Orleans said.