In New Orleans, a man drove a truck into a crowd on Bourbon and Canal streets during New Year’s celebrations, killing at least 15 people and injuring many more. The FBI is calling it a terrorist attack.
The incident happened around 3:15 a.m., just before the Sugar Bowl football game at the Caesars Superdome. The suspect has been identified as Shamsud Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old from Texas. He was a U.S. citizen and an Army veteran. In his truck, police found an ISIS flag, guns, and explosives. Two bombs were safely removed from the French Quarter.
Investigators are looking into whether Jabbar acted alone. They have reviewed video showing three men and a woman placing explosives in New Orleans, but these four people have been cleared as suspects. The FBI is still unsure if Jabbar had help.
People who interacted with Jabbar in the last 72 hours are asked to contact the FBI. An emergency declaration has been requested as the investigation continues. About 400 officers responded to the scene.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill mentioned that one bomb was placed between two police cars after the truck hit the crowd. The coroner’s office is working to identify the victims, which may take several days.
President Joe Biden has instructed top officials to gather all information about the attack. He also mentioned another explosion involving a cyber truck at the Trump hotel in Las Vegas and hasn’t ruled out a connection to the New Orleans attack.
The FBI is investigating how Jabbar got the rented Ford pickup truck used in the attack. More updates are expected soon.
