US News5 min(s) read
Published 18:14 01 Jan 2025 GMT
The suspect accused of carrying out a terrorist attack in New Orleans, killing at least 10 people and injuring over 30, has been named and pictured.
Revelers celebrating the New Year on Bourbon Street in New Orleans were mown down by a man in a pick-up truck who went past the barricades to "intentionally" drive into the crowd.
The man exchanged gunfire with police after getting out of the vehicle, injuring two officers who were later revealed to be in a stable condition, before being shot dead by law enforcement.
The suspect was preliminarily named by NBC News as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar and was confirmed to have been shot dead by police.
The FBI also released a statement confirming that the suspect - a US citizen from Texas - had an ISIS flag in his possession.
It added that Jabbar was driving a Ford pick-up truck "which appears to have been rented" and that the agency is working to confirm how he came into possession of the vehicle.
It continued, as cited by the BBC: "An ISIS flag was located in the vehicle and the FBI is working to determine the subject's potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organisations."
It added that weapons and a potential IED (improvised explosive device) were also located in the vehicle, and that "other potential IEDs were also located in the French Quarter."
"The FBI’s Special Agent Bomb Technicians are working with our law enforcement partners to determine if any of these devices are viable and they will work to render those devices safe," it concluded.
US President Joe Biden shared a statement after the tragedy, saying he is "grateful for the brave and swift response of local law enforcement in preventing even greater death and injury".
He added that he has directed his team to "ensure every resource is available" as officials work to get to the bottom of the situation and "to ensure that there is no remaining threat of any kind."
The statement continues: "My heart goes out to the victims and their families who were simply trying to celebrate the holiday. There is no justification for violence of any kind, and we will not tolerate any attack on any of our nation’s communities."
Earlier in the day, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell shared a statement revealing that the incident on Bourbon Street is being treated as a terrorist attack.
At around 3AM on New Year's Day, a pickup truck drove into a crowd in New Orleans' French Quarter, plowing into revelers celebrating the New Year.
New Orleans’ emergency preparedness agency, NOLA, confirmed it is dealing with a mass casualty incident in the Bourbon Street area, which took place at around 3AM local time.
NOLA said in a statement: "The 8th District is currently working a mass casualty incident involving a vehicle that drove into a large crowd on Canal and Bourbon Street.
"Public safety partners are responding on scene."
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell addressed the media in a press conference, referring to the tragic events as a "terrorist attack".
She confirmed she had been in contact with the White House and Louisiana's governor, and asked "for prayers for those who have lost their lives", and told the public to avoid eight blocks around Bourbon Street where the incident took place.
Police superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick confirmed that 35 people were known to have been taken to local hospitals, though that number is expected to rise.
She also revealed that the man had fired on officers, injuring two of them who are in stable condition, and added that most of the casualties appeared to be locals rather than tourists.
Police described the incident as "intentional behavior" rather than a DUI incident.
Special agent Althea Duncan, who has taken over the case on behalf of the FBI, appeared to contradict Cantrell's statement, telling reporters: "This is not a terrorist event."
She added that "improvised explosive devices" were found on the scene, and are working to find out if they are "viable", stressing again for people to avoid the area "until we can figure out what is going on".
Witnesses claimed to CBS News that a truck had crashed into the crowd at high speed before the driver got out and started firing a weapon, prompting police to return fire.
In footage shared online from the scene, gunfire can be heard in the background as members of the public ran from the area.
The injured have been transported to hospitals nearby, with officials warning that the death toll could potentially rise.
It was also confirmed that the suspect had been killed in a shootout with the police, but investigators were still working to establish a motive.
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