At least 15 people were killed after a US army veteran who had expressed a “desire to kill” drove a pick-up truck into crowds of people celebrating New Year in New Orleans before he was fatally shot dead by police.
The FBI said it is investigating the attack in the early hours of Wednesday on the famous Bourbon Street as a terrorist act and does not believe the driver acted alone.
An ISIS flag was attached to the vehicle as it was driven at speed down the busy road, the FBI said. President Joe Biden has said the suspect had posted a video to social media hours before the attack in which he said he was inspired by the Islamic State group.
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An IS flag that was attached to the pick-up truck that was driven down Bourbon Street
Multiple improvised explosive devices – including two pipe bombs hidden inside coolers and wired for remote detonation – were found in the vehicle and elsewhere in the city’s French Quarter.
The suspect, identified by the FBI as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a US citizen from Texas, had driven around safety measures in place to protect pedestrians.
The attack happened in the city’s French Quarter
He was fatally shot after getting out of the rented pick-up truck and opening fire on responding police officers, New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said.
Two officers were also injured in the gun battle and more than 30 people were injured in the attack.
‘Desire to kill’
Addressing the nation on Wednesday night, Mr Biden said called the attack a “despicable” and “heinous act”.
He added: “There is no justification for violence of any kind, and we will not tolerate any attack on any of our nation’s communities.”
Addressing the victims and the people of New Orleans, he added: “Our nation grieves with you as you mourn and as you heal.”
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New Orleans suspect ‘says hello’ on old promo vid
Mr Biden said Jabbar had posted a video on social media indicating he had been influenced by Islamic State and that he had expressed a “desire to kill.”
The Associated Press news agency, citing an intelligence bulletin, said the suspect was wearing a ballistic vest and helmet. The flag of the IS group was also found on the vehicle’s trailer hitch, the FBI said.
A handgun and an AR-style rifle were also recovered.
FBI agents at the scene of the attack in New Orleans. Pic: Reuters
A damaged door on Bourbon Street after a suspicious package was detonated. Pic: AP
Law enforcement also closed off a road leading to a property in Houston, Texas, which is thought to be associated with the suspect.
Images showed a bomb disposal robot and SWAT officers at the scene.
Jabbar served in human resources and IT roles in the US army between 2007 and 2015.
He was deployed to Afghanistan between 2009 and 2010, before moving to the reserves from 2015 to 2020.
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What we know about the New Orleans attack
Possible link to Tesla Cybertruck explosion
US authorities are also investigating whether the attack has any connection to a Tesla Cybertruck which exploded outside a Trump hotel in Las Vegas.
Sky News’ US partner network NBC News reported that authorities are examining a “possible military connection” between the two suspects, and are already looking into the fact both men used the Turo car app to rent the vehicles used in both incidents.
Sources familiar with the investigation told NBC News the driver of the Cybertruck had previous military experience – although they stressed that the investigation is still unfolding.
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First victims named
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New Year’s carnage haunts New Orleans – but ‘Big Easy’ has suffered before
A robot is deployed at a location associated with the attacker in Houston, Texas. Pic: AP
Some of the victims of the New Orleans attack have been identified.
Among them were 18-year-old aspiring nurse Ni’Kyra Cheyenne Dedeaux and Princeton graduate Tiger Bech, 27.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has urged people to avoid the area, which remains an active crime scene with a large part of Bourbon Street cordoned off.
The FBI has repeatedly warned about a heightened terrorism threat due to the Israel-Hamas war.
