New Orleans (USA), January 2:
A former US Army veteran, driving a pickup truck displaying the Islamic State flag, unleashed havoc during New Orleans’ chaotic New Year celebrations, killing 15 people. He maneuvered around a police barricade and rammed into pedestrians before being fatally shot by police officers.
The FBI launched an investigation into the incident as a terrorist act, indicating that the driver likely had accomplices. Guns and what appeared to be improvised explosives were discovered in the truck, along with additional devices found across the city’s French Quarter.
President Joe Biden confirmed that the FBI uncovered social media videos posted by the driver shortly before the attack, where he expressed his desire to kill and mentioned being inspired by the Islamic State group.
The attack transformed Bourbon Street, a hub for New Year revelers, into a scene of chaos with bloodied bodies, injured victims, and terrified people scrambling for shelter in nearby nightclubs and restaurants. In addition to those killed, dozens were injured. A college football playoff game at the nearby Superdome was delayed until Thursday.
Zion Parsons, 18, from Gulfport, Mississippi, described seeing the truck “barreling through” the crowd, throwing people into the air “like in a movie.” “Bodies, bodies all up and down the street, everybody screaming and hollering,” he added. His friend, Nikyra Dedeaux, was among those killed.
“This is not just terrorism; it’s pure evil,” said New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick.
The driver, identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, from Texas, managed to bypass the safety barriers protecting pedestrians, demonstrating a clear intent to cause as much destruction as possible, Kirkpatrick explained. The FBI is investigating possible links between Jabbar and terrorist organizations.
Multiple improvised explosives, including two remote-detonated pipe bombs hidden inside coolers, were discovered at the scene, according to a Louisiana State Police bulletin. Surveillance footage showed three men and a woman placing one of the devices, but it was unclear whether they were connected to the attack.
Jabbar drove the rented pickup onto a sidewalk, evading a police vehicle positioned to block traffic. At the time, barriers meant to prevent such attacks were being repaired in preparation for the Super Bowl.
The driver was killed by police after exiting the vehicle and opening fire. Three officers responded, two of whom were injured but are now in stable condition. A handgun and AR-style rifle were recovered from the scene.
Authorities also reported explosions in Honolulu and outside a Las Vegas hotel owned by President-elect Donald Trump. The FBI is investigating whether these incidents are related but had no updates as of Wednesday evening.
Images of Jabbar, wearing camouflage, a ballistic vest, and a helmet, were circulated among law enforcement officials after his death. The Islamic State flag was visible on his truck’s trailer hitch.
US Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana called the attack “evil,” adding that it should trigger strong reactions from all Americans. Jabbar, a former Army staff sergeant, served from 2007 to 2020, including a deployment to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010.
After the attack, coroner vans were seen outside Bourbon and Canal streets as police worked to secure the area. Despite the tragedy, life continued nearby, with tourists enjoying breakfast and drinks as though nothing had happened.
President Biden condemned the attack as a “heinous act” and expressed his condolences to the victims and their families. “Our nation grieves with you as you mourn and heal,” Biden said. He emphasized that there is “no justification for violence of any kind,” and vowed that the nation would not tolerate attacks on its communities.
This incident marks one of the deadliest attacks inspired by the Islamic State group on US soil in recent years. The FBI has consistently warned of increased terrorism threats, particularly due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, with several other potential attacks thwarted in the past year, including one in Oklahoma targeting Election Day crowds.
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