A US Army veteran, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, from Texas, flew an ISIS flag from his truck and plowed into a crowded area in New Orleans’ French Quarter on New Year’s Day, killing 15 people and injuring about 30 others, including two police officers. The attack occurred around 3:15 a.m. near the intersection of Canal and Bourbon Streets, a historic tourist destination.
Jabbar was killed in a shootout with police after ramming the crowd. The FBI found weapons and a potential explosive device in the vehicle, while two potential explosive devices were found in the French Quarter and rendered safe.
The victims included the mother of a 4-year-old, a New York financial employee, an accomplished student athlete, and an 18-year-old aspiring nurse from Mississippi. The FBI is investigating possible links to terrorist organizations and is looking into a “range of suspects.”
US President Joe Biden condemned the attack, calling it “despicable,” and said investigators are looking into whether there might be a link to a Tesla truck fire outside a Trump hotel in Las Vegas. The FBI also reported that Jabbar posted videos on social media indicating that he was inspired by ISIS and expressed a desire to kill.
The attack occurred as the city was preparing to host the NFL Super Bowl on February 9 and the Sugar Bowl, a classic college football game, which was postponed until Thursday afternoon due to the ongoing investigation.
New Orleans was in the process of removing and replacing steel barriers known as bollards that restrict vehicle traffic in the Bourbon Street area, but construction was not yet complete. Police vehicles and officers attempted to provide a temporary barrier, but the attacker was able to breach it.
