Following the recent tragedy in New Orleans, there has been some discrepancy in the terminology used by officials to describe the event. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell initially referred to the incident as a 'terrorist attack,' while FBI Assistant Special Agent Alethea Duncan stated that it was not classified as such.
Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe acknowledged the challenge of effectively communicating such incidents to the public in the early stages of an investigation. Terrorism analyst Juliette Kayyem suggested that the mayor may have used the term 'terrorist attack' colloquially to convey the impact of the violence on the city, rather than in line with the FBI's formal definition of terrorism.
Kayyem highlighted that while the tragedy may instill fear and terror in the community, the FBI requires specific intent to classify an act as terrorism. The FBI distinguishes between domestic terrorism, which involves acts driven by ideological goals within the country, and international terrorism, which is linked to foreign terrorist organizations or nations.
Despite the differing terminology used, both the mayor and the FBI agent confirmed that the FBI is leading the investigation into the incident. McCabe emphasized that the FBI conducts thorough investigations to determine whether an act meets the criteria for terrorism.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities will continue to gather evidence and assess the motives behind the tragic event in New Orleans. Clarifying the terminology used is crucial in ensuring accurate communication with the public and understanding the nature of the incident.
