Five shot dead 'were army workers'...

[Imagevision]

September 05, 2005

At least five people shot dead by police as they walked across a New Orleans bridge yesterday were contractors working for the US Defence department, according to a report by The Associated Press.

A spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers said the victims were contractors on their way to repair a canal, the new agency said, quoting a defence Department spokesman.

The contractors crossing the bridge to launch barges into Lake Pontchartrain, in an operation to fix the 17th Street Canal, according to the spokesman.

The shootings took place on the Danziger Bridge, across a canal connecting Lake Pontchartrain to the Mississippi River.

Early on Sunday, Deputy Police Chief W.J. Riley of New Orleans said police shot at eight people, killing five or six.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16494579%5E12377,00.html

[xray s]

1. WTF???

The police are killing the rescue workers???

Who the HELL is in charge there?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Contractors weren't shot. They were shot AT. Shooters were killed by cops.

Was reported on CNN, confirmed by ACoE hours ago.

[Imagevision]

10. ocelot- read the link

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16494579%5E12377,00.html

[krkaufman]

2. I believe this has been retracted

(Though it *may* be true, and the retraction may be a PR move.)

[Barack_America]

4. That's fabulous...rack up another failure for FEMA...

...who described their role as a "master coordinator of communications" during disasters.

Dear God, there is seemingly no end to the incompetence.

Do you think these guys were with Halliburton???

[SlowDownFast]

5. Friendly fire.

Go figure.

What a fucking catastrophe.

edit: If it didn't actually happen and the story was retracted-Thank Jah! But it's entirely believable these dayz...anything goes...TO SHIT UNDER THIS REGIME...

[Catrina]

6. What???

This story keeps changing ~ first it was Saturday, then it changed to Sunday, and the people shot were supposedly shooting AT contractors!!

I just heard on the news that there is still an 'element of lawlessness' in the city, as police shot at eight people who were shooting AT contractors!!!

Now, the police killed contractors??

[chalky]

19. When was it Saturday?

It was breaking news announced this afternoon on CNN & MSNBC.

[still_one]

7. is there a U.S. link to confirm this?

[Beam Me Up]

8. Any other SOURCES on this story? I'm getting this is unconfirmed.

[ngGale]

14. I had two breaking news alerts about this today...

Spokesman: New Orleans Police Shot Engineers
Contractors for the Army Corps of Engineers were killed by police as they walked
across a bridge to repair a canal, an Army Corps of Engineers spokesman said.

MORE DETAILS: <http://treets.wral.com/svc/lnk.cfm?l=59307655&t=1>

----------------

After Engineers Fired On, Police Kill 5 Or 6
After reporting earlier that police shot several Army Corps of Engineers
contractors, the Associated Press is now reporting that police shot people who
fired on the contractors.


MORE DETAILS: <http://treets.wral.com/svc/lnk.cfm?l=59308225&t=1>
-------------------------------------
I have no idea what really happened, it just confused me.

[leftofthedial]

9. and we were worried about civil war in Iraq

what about HERE?!

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[applegrove]

12. God - that is just awful. I hope it isn't true. n/t

[SofaKingLiberal]

13. How many more times is this story going to change?

[Barack_America]

15. Until they settle on one that polls well!! n/t

[Garbo 2004]

16. WWL's report on their blog, ACOE contractors not fired on by police:

http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWLBLOG.ac3fcea.html

6:06 P.M. - Police shot and killed at least five people Sunday after gunmen opened fire on a group of contractors traveling across a bridge on their way to make repairs, authorities said. Deputy Police Chief W.J. Riley said police shot at eight people carrying guns, killing five or six.

Fourteen contractors were traveling across the Danziger Bridge under police escort when they came under fire, said John Hall, a spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers. They were on their way to launch barges into Lake Pontchartrain to help plug the breech in the 17th Street Canal, Hall said.

None of the contractors was killed, Hall said.
---------------

Earlier reports had contractors killed by police which is the version in the OP.

Subsequently I listened to the ACOE news conference via WWL and the ACOE guy said what the WWL blog reports.

[Imagevision]

17. Here's the link:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16494579%5E12377,00.html

[Tyranny_R_US]

20. You keep posting that is there a point?

[Garbo 2004]

22. Here's another NOLA link with the subsequent report:

At least five fatally shot after firing on federal contractors
9/4/2005, 6:37 p.m. CT
The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Police shot and killed at least five people Sunday after gunmen opened fire on a group of contractors traveling across a bridge on their way to make repairs, authorities said.

Deputy Police Chief W.J. Riley said police shot at eight people carrying guns, killing five or six.

Fourteen contractors were traveling across the Danziger Bridge under police escort when they came under fire, said John Hall, a spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers.

They were on their way to launch barges into Lake Pontchartrain to help plug the breech in the 17th Street Canal, Hall said.

None of the contractors was injured, Mike Rogers, a disaster relief coordinator with the Army Corps of Engineers, told reporters in Baton Rouge. http://www.nola.com/newsflash/national/index.ssf?/base/news-18/1125869642234002.xml&storylist=hurricane

[FreedomAngel82]

18. Oh gosh

:( Why did they do that?

[Sunkiss BlueStar]

21. Do I look fat

with this hat on
:tinfoilhat:

[maddezmom]

23. locking, original report in OP is not accurate

6:06 P.M. - Police shot and killed at least five people Sunday after gunmen opened fire on a group of contractors traveling across a bridge on their way to make repairs, authorities said. Deputy Police Chief W.J. Riley said police shot at eight people carrying guns, killing five or six.


Fourteen contractors were traveling across the Danziger Bridge under police escort when they came under fire, said John Hall, a spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers. They were on their way to launch barges into Lake Pontchartrain to help plug the breech in the 17th Street Canal, Hall said.


None of the contractors was killed, Hall said.

http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWLBLOG.ac3fcea.html

Gunmen Attack Contractors on La. Bridge Sun Sep 4, 7:35 PM ET



NEW ORLEANS - Police shot and killed at least five people Sunday after gunmen opened fire on a group of contractors traveling across a bridge on their way to make repairs, authorities said.

Deputy Police Chief W.J. Riley said police shot at eight people carrying guns, killing five or six.

Fourteen contractors were traveling across the Danziger Bridge under police escort when they came under fire, said John Hall, a spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers.

They were on their way to launch barges into Lake Pontchartrain to help plug the breech in the 17th Street Canal, Hall said.

None of the contractors was injured, Mike Rogers, a disaster relief coordinator with the Army Corps of Engineers, told reporters in Baton Rouge.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050904/ap_on_re_us/katrina_shootings_hk1