Sugar Bowl postponed to Jan. 2 after New Orleans deadly truck-ramming attack

NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The yearly Sugar Bowl has been postponed 1 time successful the aftermath of the truck-ramming onslaught aboriginal Wednesday greeting connected Bourbon Street that near astatine slightest 15 dormant and dozens injured.

The fishy was killed aft allegedly opening occurrence connected constabulary officers with an battle rifle. The FBI is investigating the onslaught arsenic an "act of terrorism."

Law enforcement said the onslaught occurred astatine 3:15 a.m. section time, astir 16 hours earlier the Georgia Bulldogs were expected to instrumentality connected the Notre Dame Fighting Irish successful the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoffs astatine Caesars Superdome.

There were discussions Wednesday greeting astir perchance postponing oregon canceling the Sugar Bowl -- a assemblage shot crippled played annually astatine New Orleans connected New Year's Eve oregon New Year's Day since 1935 -- owed to the fig of resources needed to unafraid the venue, according to sources briefed connected the discussions.

Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams told ABC News Wednesday day that the game, acceptable to footwear disconnected Jan. 1 astatine 7:45 p.m. CT, would beryllium postponed by 1 time with an authoritative announcement to follow.

Both schools issued statements, offering condolences to the victims and their families.

"We are horrified and saddened by the senseless enactment of unit that occurred successful the aboriginal hours of New Year's Day successful New Orleans," the University of Georgia wrote successful a connection connected X. "University unit are moving to find if immoderate UGA students, faculty, staff, alumni oregon fans were among the victims. We connection our deepest condolences to each the victims and their families, and we basal successful solidarity with the New Orleans community."

"Our prayers are with the household members and loved ones of each those impacted by the unspeakable onslaught successful New Orleans aboriginal this morning," the Rev. Robert A. Dowd, president of Notre Dame, said successful a statement. "We besides commune for each those injured and widen our deepest gratitude to the brave archetypal responders who risked their lives to support others. To beryllium successful solidarity with those who endure is to exemplify the tone of Notre Dame. Today, we are successful solidarity with each those impacted by this tragedy."

According to the New Orleans Police Department, the onslaught connected Bourbon Street occurred arsenic the section was "staffed 100%" for New Year's Eve and the Sugar Bowl.

"The Sugar Bowl Committee is devastated by the unspeakable events from aboriginal this morning," Allstate Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley said successful a statement, according to ABC News section affiliate WJCL. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. We are successful ongoing discussions with authorities connected the local, state, and national levels and volition pass further details arsenic they go available."

Former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial told ABC News' Diane Macedo that helium was assured instrumentality enforcement could guarantee information for the Sugar Bowl and that the disbursal connected radical who traveled into municipality for the crippled had to beryllium weighed.

"If determination is thought to postpone the crippled for a time oregon two, 1 happening that is implicated is you person visitors from Georgia, visitors from Notre Dame, who are there, who person paid to travel to New Orleans, who are staying astatine edifice rooms astatine immoderate disbursal to themselves. You've got to measurement the interaction connected them, arsenic well," helium said.