Seven shot at New Orleans Mardi Gras street party

SEVEN people, including a toddler, were hit by gunfire at a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans.

Police said two suspects, men aged 18 and 19, were in custody, and the 20-month-old child was not seriously injured.

The shootings happened near the Garden District at about 1.40pm after the last major parade of the celebration ended. Truck floats following the parade were passing by when gunshots were heard.

"It sounded like a string of fireworks, so I knew it was more than one shooter," said Toni Labat, 29, a limousine company manager with two children.

"Everybody was petrified. They hit the ground, the floats stopped, everybody on the floats ducked."

Police spokesman Bob Young said six victims - three men aged 50, 33 and 20, two women, 20 and 17, and a 15-year-old boy - were taken to hospital. There were no reports on their condition.

Police were not sure if the shots was random or whether the gunmen were aiming for the victims or each other.