Auto show safety in the wake of Bourbon Street attack Detroit has its own slate of big events it is hosting in 2025 and after another big host city suffered a tragedy on New Year's Day, there are questions over how the Motor City will secure other's safety, including during the Auto Show later in January.DETROIT (FOX 2) - Police and other law enforcement in Detroit are following the terrorist attack in New Orleans closely. With just nine days before an international audience comes to town for the auto show, safety is on the top of everyone’s mind. Security is always tight at the annual event. The building itself has safeguards around it in the form of concrete barricades.. and during the event access is limited, but acts of terror always remind us that we always have to be aware of our surroundings. The Detroit Auto Show returns to January in the D, an exclamation point of sorts with all the hustle and bustle the city is currently experiencing with the holidays and the red-hot Lions. But recent events in New Orleans remind us all how dark the cloud of terror can be, and with just nine days before an international audience comes to town for the signature automotive event, safety is on the top of everyone’s mind. "You have to have situational awareness," said Mohammed Bazzi, from Canada. "Things like that can happen at any time." "They want to make America scared and we can’t be scared," said Steve Dolunt, retired assistant DPD chief. "We just have to take protections. And Detroit will have plenty of officers out there, they will have stanchions (barriers), metal detectors, they will do everything." When Dolunt was working for the Detroit Police Department, he covered his fair share of auto shows. He says there are reasons to believe this event isn't likely to be the target of a copycat attack. "If a vehicle (is) coming down eastbound Jefferson, if it were to hit it, it would hit the cement," Dolunt said. Annual events like the North American International Auto Show take nearly a full year of preparation. A large part of that is adequate and proper security and law enforcement. "We would hope they're going to buff up security. That’s also up to the authorities too," said Detroiter Stephanie Pritchett. Still, attacks can happen at any time - the fear it conjures up is a key component of terrorism. "Most people down there are trying to have a good time and some whack-job terrorist is going to come and try to wipe those people out," said Dolunt. It's how the public responds to that fear that determines if the act itself was successful. "It’s definitely something to be aware of, something to keep in mind and you gotta keep your family safe and protect them number one," said one man. "And, you know, but also try to enjoy yourselves and live your life to the fullest. We're not going to let anything stop us." The Detroit Auto Show runs from January 10th through the 20th. There are no specific threats that have been made public at this time and we will continue to work to find out what specific changes are being made to ensure everyone at the show is kept safe. NAIAS

Detroit Auto Show security in the spotlight following New Orleans terror attack

Auto show safety in the wake of Bourbon Street attack Still, attacks can happen at any time – the fear it conjures up is a key component of terrorism. “You have to have situational awareness,” said Mohammed Bazzi, from Canada. “Things like that can happen at any time.” When Dolunt was working for the […]

Auto show safety in the wake of Bourbon Street attack

Still, attacks can happen at any time – the fear it conjures up is a key component of terrorism.

“You have to have situational awareness,” said Mohammed Bazzi, from Canada. “Things like that can happen at any time.”
When Dolunt was working for the Detroit Police Department, he covered his fair share of auto shows. He says there are reasons to believe this event isn’t likely to be the target of a copycat attack. The Detroit Auto Show returns to January in the D, an exclamation point of sorts with all the hustle and bustle the city is currently experiencing with the holidays and the red-hot Lions. “It’s definitely something to be aware of, something to keep in mind and you gotta keep your family safe and protect them number one,” said one man. “And, you know, but also try to enjoy yourselves and live your life to the fullest. We’re not going to let anything stop us.” Detroit has its own slate of big events it is hosting in 2025 and after another big host city suffered a tragedy on New Year’s Day, there are questions over how the Motor City will secure other’s safety, including during the Auto Show later in January. “If a vehicle (is) coming down eastbound Jefferson, if it were to hit it, it would hit the cement,” Dolunt said. Annual events like the North American International Auto Show take nearly a full year of preparation. A large part of that is adequate and proper security and law enforcement. The Detroit Auto Show runs from January 10th through the 20th. There are no specific threats that have been made public at this time and we will continue to work to find out what specific changes are being made to ensure everyone at the show is kept safe. But recent events in New Orleans remind us all how dark the cloud of terror can be, and with just nine days before an international audience comes to town for the signature automotive event, safety is on the top of everyone’s mind. DETROIT (FOX 2) –
Police and other law enforcement in Detroit are following the terrorist attack in New Orleans closely. With just nine days before an international audience comes to town for the auto show, safety is on the top of everyone’s mind. It’s how the public responds to that fear that determines if the act itself was successful. “We would hope they’re going to buff up security. That’s also up to the authorities too,” said Detroiter Stephanie Pritchett. Security is always tight at the annual event. The building itself has safeguards around it in the form of concrete barricades.. and during the event access is limited, but acts of terror always remind us that we always have to be aware of our surroundings. “Most people down there are trying to have a good time and some whack-job terrorist is going to come and try to wipe those people out,” said Dolunt.

“They want to make America scared and we can’t be scared,” said Steve Dolunt, retired assistant DPD chief. “We just have to take protections. And Detroit will have plenty of officers out there, they will have stanchions (barriers), metal detectors, they will do everything.”

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