The death toll in the tragic New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans has risen to at least 15 people, with dozens more injured.
The attack, which occurred early on January 1, involved a suspect driving a Ford pickup truck through a crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street.
The FBI has confirmed the identity of the deceased suspect as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas.
Jabbar’s deadly rampage also included the apparent presence of an ISIS flag in the vehicle, and the FBI is investigating potential links to terrorist organizations.
They discovered weapons and what may be an improvised explosive device (IED) inside the truck, along with additional IEDs found in the French Quarter. Law enforcement is working to neutralize these devices.
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The attack is now officially being treated as an act of terrorism. Witnesses and authorities describe the incident as a deliberate attempt to cause maximum harm.
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick stated, “This perpetrator was hell-bent on creating the carnage and damage he did.”
The suspect was involved in a shootout with police after crashing the truck, during which two officers were injured but are now in stable condition. Jabbar died during the exchange.
Authorities also confirmed that Jabbar may not have acted alone. The FBI is urging anyone with information to come forward, with a digital tip line set up for the public.
Jabbar, previously arrested for minor offenses in Texas, had reportedly made no significant waves in his criminal history prior to this violent attack.
Law enforcement officials are continuing to investigate his motives and any possible ties to terrorist groups.
This horrific incident has shocked the city, and authorities are vowing to ensure justice for the victims of this New Year’s Day massacre.