A man deliberately drove a pickup truck into a gathering of celebrants on Bourbon Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter during the early hours of New Year’s Day, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 individuals and injuring many more, according to officials. The truck was adorned with a black ISIS flag, prompting the Federal Bureau of Investigation to classify the incident as a potential act of terrorism. At approximately 3:15 a.m. CST, the driver struck the crowd and subsequently exited the vehicle, opening fire on local law enforcement, who returned fire, leading to the suspect’s death at the scene. Two officers sustained injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The perpetrator has been identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas, who was operating a rented Ford pickup truck. Authorities are currently investigating how he acquired the vehicle. An ISIS flag was discovered inside the truck, and the FBI is examining Jabbar’s possible connections to terrorist groups. Additionally, weapons and a potential improvised explosive device (IED) were found in the vehicle, with other suspected IEDs located throughout the French Quarter. The FBI’s bomb technicians are collaborating with local law enforcement to assess the viability of these devices and ensure public safety. The FBI is leading the investigation, diligently pursuing all leads to uncover any potential associates of the suspect.
