New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Gov. Jeff Landry plan to ask President Joe Biden for federal help to increase security for the city’s Mardi Gras celebrations in the wake of the deadly Bourbon Street attack, she announced at an FBI press conference Sunday.

Cantrell joined federal investigators to give an update on the truck-ramming and shooting attack that occurred as revelers from across the country were celebrating in the early hours of New Year’s Day. Biden is due to visit New Orleans on Monday.

The FBI also released new details surrounding Shamsud-Din Jabbar’s actions, including videos that showed the Texas man filming the French Quarter months before he plowed through crowds on Bourbon Street in a pickup truck with a bomb inside, killing 14 and injuring at least 35. Cantrell said the city is focused on increasing public safety for major events like the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras. 

Cantrell said she and Landry will meet with Biden when he and First Lady Jill Biden visit to offer support for victims and their families. They will ask the president to increase the Dept. of Homeland Security Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) to level 1. 

A SEAR increase would mean DHS could offer federal support for Mardi Gras that includes explosive detection K-9 units, cyber risk assessments, venue screening, field intelligence teams and air security. 

The increased ranking is something Cantrell said she’s been advocating for since Mardi Gras 2019. 

The mayor and New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick have already asked the White House to deploy a tactical expert as New Orleans preps for Carnival and hosting Super Bowl LIX.

“The city of New Orleans will always remain focused on improving public safety measures,” she said.

Bollards that could help prevent car attacks like the one on New Year’s Day were down on Bourbon Street on Jan. 1 for repair.

The city has been working to replace them, but documents and those familiar with the project say the new versions are not designed to stop an incident like the New Year’s Day killing spree. 

Jabbar was killed in a shootout with police after he careened through Bourbon Street crowds for three blocks. The FBI said NOPD’s swift actions in killing him likely stopped him from detonating homemade bombs he placed around the French Quarter.