At least 15 people have been killed and dozens injured after a man, identified by the FBI as a United States military veteran, plowed pickup truck in a crowd of New Year’s revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, United States.
The suspect, who has since been killed in a police shootout, has been identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, an American citizen from the state of Texas.
The FBI is investigating the attack as an “act of terrorism” and said it does not believe the driver acted alone in the attack on one of the nation’s top tourist destinations.
US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that the FBI had informed him that the suspect had posted videos on social media that showed he was inspired by the armed group ISIS (ISIL), expressing a “desire to kill”.
Here’s what we know about the incident, the suspect and the latest information on the ground.
What happened in New Orleans and when?
- Around 3:15 a.m. (09:15 GMT) on Wednesday, a rented Ford F-150 pickup plowed into a crowd of New Orleans revelers at high speed, according to local police.
- New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said the driver swerved around the barricade and drove “at a very high rate of speed” and in a “very deliberate” manner.
- After the car stopped, the driver jumped out of the vehicle and fired at the responding officers, who returned fire and killed him.
- Hours after the attack, three coroner’s vans stood at the scene of the car crash, surrounded by police tape as tourists gathered nearby.
- The FBI said they found an explosive device at the site, but are working to confirm whether or not it is viable.
- New Orleans police said more than 300 additional officers were on duty during the incident to manage New Year’s Eve crowds.
- New Orleans Department of Public Works projects show that the steel bollards and safety barriers along Bourbon Street were replaced when the truck drove through the area. However, while speaking with WWL-TV, City Council President Helena Moreno said the gunman would likely have found a way to kill whether the obstacles were there or not.
Who is the suspect?
The FBI identified the suspect as 42-year-old Jabbar, who served in the US Army between 2007 and 2020. He was also deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010.
An ISIL (ISIS) flag was found in the vehicle along with weapons and potential explosive devices, the FBI said in a statement.
“An ISIS flag was located in the vehicle and the FBI is working to determine the subject’s potential connection and association with terrorist organizations,” it said.
New Orleans City Council President Helena Moreno said the suspect was dressed in full military gear and police described his actions as intentional.
“This man was trying to run over as many people as he could,” Kirkpatrick, the police superintendent, told reporters Wednesday.
“He was hell-bent on creating the carnage and damage he did,” she added.
Jabbar appears to have rented an F-150 Lightning electric truck from car rental website Turo, according to CNN.
He graduated from Georgia State University in 2017 with a degree in Computer Information Systems.
Where did the incident take place?
The incident happened in New Orleans, a city in the southwestern state of Louisiana. It lies on the Mississippi River, near the Gulf of Mexico.
The vehicle traveled down Canal Street to Bourbon Street, the heart of the city’s famous French Quarter, a neighborhood known for its bars, restaurants and jazz history.
Bourbon Street is known around the world as one of the biggest destinations for New Year’s Eve parties, and the area had special offerings for New Year’s Eve, including LGBTQ parties and a drag cabaret near where the incident happened.
The city also hosted a crowd awaiting the Sugar Bowl college football playoff game later Wednesday at the nearby Superdome. The match was postponed for 24 hours after the attack.
New Orleans, nicknamed “The Big Easy” for its lively, laid-back lifestyle, is also a top tourist destination in the US.
However, it has faced past incidents including shootings and vehicle crashes with crowds, such as two shootings in November 2024 that left two dead and 10 injured during a parade.
How many people were killed?
At least 15 people were killed and 35 injured, according to police reports.
Among the wounded are two police officers, who were injured by the driver’s firearm.
Zion Parsons, 18, of Gulfport, Mississippi, said he saw the truck “going through, throwing people like in a movie scene, throwing people up in the air.”
“Bodies, bodies all up and down the street, everybody screaming and yelling,” Parsons, whose friend Nikyra Dedeaux was among those killed, told the AP.
Among the dead is Princeton University football player Martin “Tiger” Bech.
“He was a ‘Tiger’ in every way – a fierce competitor with endless energy, a beloved teammate and a caring friend. Our last conversation was about how proud I am of the growth he’s shown during his time at Princeton and the success he’s had since graduation. My love goes out to the entire Bech family,” head football coach Bob Surace said, according to the Princeton Football website.
Was the New Orleans incident a ‘terrorist attack’?
The FBI said Wednesday it was working with its partners “to investigate this as an act of terrorism.”
“The FBI is working to determine the subject’s potential connection and association with terrorist organizations,” Alethea Duncan, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI in New Orleans, told reporters.
“We don’t believe Jabbar was solely responsible,” Duncan said. “We are aggressively pursuing every lead, including those of his known associates.”
However, it is not specified what evidence is used to make that legal decision, and information about a possible motive has not been released.
What’s the latest in the field?
The FBI is investigating and Bourbon Street is under siege.
Local authorities have set up an assembly point at the University Medical Center for families checking on their loved ones.
Despite the incident, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy said New Orleans police are ready for Wednesday’s Sugar Bowl, and the Superdome is now closed to ensure safety.
US President Joe Biden assured Mayor LaToya Cantrell of full federal support following the attack, and the White House confirmed the president would receive ongoing updates.
US President-elect Donald Trump also expressed his condolences, calling the attack “an act of pure evil”.
