Explainer | Terror on wheels: deadly vehicle attacks become increasingly common

The New Orleans New Year’s Day ramming is the latest attack to use a vehicle as a deadly weapon

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At least five people are killed and more than 200 were injured when a car slammed into a Christmas market in eastern Germany in December. Photo: dpa via AP

Published: 11:56am, 2 Jan 2025Updated: 2:40pm, 2 Jan 2025

A new chapter in mass attacks began in Nice, France, in 2016, when a man drove a heavy truck into crowds of Bastille Day celebrants. Since then vehicle attacks have become increasingly common, though only some have been declared acts of terrorism. The New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans, as revellers ushered in 2025, was the latest attack.

A driver crashed his pickup truck into a crowd celebrating New Year’s Day in New Orleans’ French Quarter and opened fire, killing 15 people and injuring more than 35, in an early morning attack the FBI said was a potential act of terrorism.

Vehicle attacks have become increasingly common around the world. The US Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency calls vehicle attacks “a significant threat in the United States” and provides a “Vehicle Incident Prevention and Mitigation Security Guide”.

Below is a list of some high-profile incidents in which a vehicle was used to ram into crowds, harming and killing bystanders.

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Magdeburg, Germany

Last month in Germany, a 50-year-old man was charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder after police said he ploughed a car through crowds at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing five people and injuring scores.