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FBI has labeled the early Wednesday attack as an act of terrorism and suspects the driver did not act alone.
Emergency services attend the scene on Bourbon Street after a vehicle drove into a crowd on New Orleans’ Canal and Bourbon Street. (IMAGE: AP PHOTO)
A New Year’s celebration in New Orleans’ vibrant French Quarter turned tragic when an Army veteran driving a pickup truck adorned with the Islamic State group’s flag plowed through a police blockade and into crowds of revelers, leaving 15 dead. The driver was shot and killed by police.
FBI has, however, labeled the early Wednesday attack as an act of terrorism and suspects the driver did not act alone.
According to a Louisiana State Police intelligence bulletin obtained by the Associated Press, investigators discovered multiple improvised explosive devices, including two pipe bombs hidden in coolers and wired for remote detonation.
Read More: US-Born Army Veteran, ‘Inspired’ By ISIS: All About New Orleans Attack Suspect
Biden On New Orleans Attack
Speaking on the deadly attack in New Orleans, US President Joe Biden said FBI is leading an investigation to determine “what happened, why it happened and whether there was any continuing threat to public safety”.
While mentioning the attacks, Biden said: “To all the families of those who are killed, to all those who are injured, to all the people of New Orleans who are grieving today, I want you to know I grieve with you. Our nation grieves with you.”
#WATCH | US President Joe Biden says, “We’re tracking the explosion of a cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. Law enforcement and the intelligence community are investigating this as well, including whether there’s any possible connection with the attack in New… pic.twitter.com/FnDzFoIMH9— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2025
Apprising about the brutal attack, the US President said FBI has informed him that the killer was an American citizen, born in Texas. “He served in the United States Army on active duty for many years. He also served in the Army Reserve until a few years ago. The FBI also reported to me that mere hours before the attack, he posted videos on social media indicating that he was inspired by ISIS, expressing a desire to kill,” added Biden
‘Possible Link’: Musk On Las Vegas And New Orleans Attack
Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Wednesday suggested that there’s a link between the Cybertruck explosion outside Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas and the attack in New Orleans, noting that both vehicles were rented through the same car-sharing platform, Turo.
“Appears likely to be an act of terrorism. Both this Cybertruck and the F-150 suicide bomb in New Orleans were rented from Turo. Perhaps they are linked in some way,” Musk wrote in a post in X.
Read More: In Video Before New Orleans Attack, ISIS-Inspired Driver Said He Planned To Kill Own Family
Are Two Attacks Connected?
The New Orleans terror attack share a surprising connection, which is the car rental app Turo. Although officials have found no evidence directly linking the two incidents, investigators have confirmed that both the pickup truck used in the Bourbon Street attack and the Tesla truck involved in the explosion were rented through Turo. Elon Musk, too, has showed his concerns, saying the two cases were “perhaps linked in some way”.
Appears likely to be an act of terrorism.Both this Cybertruck and the F-150 suicide bomb in New Orleans were rented from Turo. Perhaps they are linked in some way. https://t.co/MM6ehJO3SG
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 1, 2025
Others Involved, Shows Surveillance Footage
The bulletin, relying on information gathered soon after the attack, also said surveillance footage showed three men and a woman placing one of the devices, but federal officials did not immediately confirm that detail and it wasn’t clear who the individuals in the video were or what connection they may have had to the attack.
The joyous atmosphere of Bourbon Street descended into chaos and tragedy during the rampage. Alongside the 15 fatalities, over 30 people were injured. Panicked pedestrians sought refuge in nearby nightclubs and restaurants. One man stood in shock as authorities draped a tarp over his friend’s body, who had been struck and thrown nearly 30 feet.
Student Critically Injured
The attack also disrupted a college football playoff game between Georgia and Notre Dame, scheduled at the nearby Superdome, which was postponed until Thursday. Georgia university president Jere Morehead confirmed that a student from the school was critically injured in the incident.
“This is not just an act of terrorism. This is evil,” New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick was quoted as saying to new agency AP.
The driver “defeated” safety measures in place to protect pedestrians, she said, and was “hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.” The FBI identified the driver as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a US citizen from Texas, and said it is working to determine Jabbar’s potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organisations.
Same Day, Another Attack
New Year’s Eve turned deadly in multiple cities, with explosions striking Honolulu and Las Vegas just hours after the attack in New Orleans. Authorities have yet to confirm any connection between the incidents.
Pickup Truck Used For Killings
In New Orleans, officials reported that the attacker, identified as Jabbar, used a rented pickup truck to bypass a police car blocking vehicular traffic. He drove onto a sidewalk, targeting pedestrians. A barrier system designed to prevent such attacks was temporarily out of service for repairs ahead of the Super Bowl, scheduled to take place in the city in February.
Attacker Killed By Cops
Jabbar was fatally shot by police after he exited the truck and opened fire on responding officers, according to Kirkpatrick. Three officers returned fire, with two being shot in the exchange. Both are reported to be in stable condition.
Investigators recovered a handgun and an AR-style rifle, according to a law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation.
A photo circulated among law enforcement showed a bearded Jabbar wearing camouflage, lying next to the truck after his death. The intelligence bulletin obtained by the Associated Press noted that he was equipped with a ballistic vest and helmet. The FBI confirmed that the truck’s trailer hitch displayed a flag of the Islamic State group.
Google Searches On New Orleans Attack
As news of the attack broke, searches for ‘new orleans’ started picking up on Google India. The keyword showed an upward tick in search trends from 6pm on January 1, peaking at 1:30am on January 2. It remained high on searches into the morning of January 2.
Most searches came from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, followed by Goa and Karnataka.
Related searches included keywords and phrases like ‘new orleans attack’, ‘orleans attack’, ‘new orleans car’, ‘new orleans car ramming’, and ‘new orleans news’.
(With inputs from agencies)
