At least 15 people were killed and dozens injured in the early hours of Wednesday morning when a driver rammed a pickup truck flying an ISIS flag into a crowd during the New Year’s celebrations on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Texas resident and U.S. Army veteran.
Jabbar, who served in the U.S. Army from 2007 to 2020, recorded a series of videos before the attack, declaring his allegiance to ISIS. He previously served as a human resources and IT specialist and was deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010. Federal investigators are treating the attack as an act of terrorism.
The attack unfolded in the French Quarter, a historic and crowded area known for its nightlife. The rented pickup truck used in the attack was obtained through Turo, an online vehicle sharing platform. The driver was killed in a shootout with police after having ploughed through the crowd.
The FBI does not believe the driver acted alone. It is looking at a possible link between Djabbar and the Cybertruck blast driver in Las Vegas.
Authorities are investigating whether others were involved. Surveillance footage suggests that three men and a woman who were initially suspected of having placed explosive devices were not connected to the incident.
The FBI has designated the investigation a terrorism case and will provide an unclassified briefing to House and Senate oversight committees, as well as to the Louisiana House of Delegates, on Thursday, according to the CNN.
Victims of the attack are being treated at two Ochsner Health hospitals, which are urgently calling for blood donations to support the injured. Ochsner Health has encouraged the public to donate as the community copes with the aftermath of the tragedy.
US President Joe Biden addressed the nation, urging the public not to jump to conclusions before a thorough investigation is concluded. “We are directing all resources to uncover the full scope of this act of terrorism,” Biden stated.
The attack also disrupted local events, including the highly anticipated Sugar Bowl football game between the University of Georgia and the University of Notre Dame. Originally scheduled for Wednesday night, the game has been postponed to Thursday.