Reuters15 people died and at least 35 were injured after the man appeared inspired by the Islamic State group drove into large crowds in New Orleans, Louisiana, on New Year’s Day morning, authorities said.
Here’s what we know so far about what happened and the perpetrator.
How did this attack happen?
At 03:15 local time on New Year’s Day, a Ford truck plowed into crowds gathering on Bourbon Street in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter.
CCTV footage shows a white Ford F-150 Lightning driving onto the pavement to go around a police car before hitting pedestrians.
Police described the act as “premeditated”, adding that the attacker – identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar – “was intent on causing the killing and the damage he did”.
“This man was trying to run over as many people as possible,” said New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick.
Jabbar was also armed and was shot in an act of law, injuring two police officers. He was then killed by police firing.
Whit Davis, from Shreveport, Louisiana, told the BBC he was held in a bar with a large group after the attack while police secured the scene.
When they left, they “walked past injured bodies all over the street”, he said.
Who was Shamsud-Din Jabbar?
The FBIThe FBI has named the attacker as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, an Army veteran and US citizen from Texas.
A flag associated with the Islamic State (IS) group was found in the car he was traveling in and the FBI said it is investigating what Jabbar has to do with terrorist groups.
In a speech this evening, President Joe Biden said the FBI had informed him of the attack. The suspect uploaded videos on social media “a few hours before the attack” showing he was inspired by IS and expressing a “desire to kill”, Biden said.
Explosives suspected to have been improvised were also found in the area.
A long gun with a “suppressive device” – which acts as a silencer – was also found.
According to a now-deleted LinkedIn profile, Jabbar had served in various roles in the US Army, including human resources and IT, before being discharged. He was deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010.
In a YouTube video posted in 2020, Jabbar said his time in the military taught him “the meaning of great service and what it means to be responsive and take everything seriously, to make sure I’m there and to cross the t’s to make sure things go smoothly”.
He attended George State University from 2015 to 2017, graduating with a degree in Computer Information Systems.
He married twice. His first marriage ended in 2012 and the second lasted from 2017 to 2022.
He is also seen working in real estate, with a license that expired in 2021. He had a criminal record, related to traffic offenses and theft.
The truck he was traveling in was an electric truck and is believed to have been rented in Texas through an app called Thuro.
Are there more suspects?
The FBI said it believes the suspect had help in carrying out the attack, particularly by planting suspected explosives.
CBS reports that law enforcement has not yet released the evidence of those who were involved.
Earlier reports said authorities were reviewing the footage, but CBS reported that the video was intended to be shown to onlookers only.
Who were the victims?
Among the dead was former Princeton University football star Martin “Tiger” Bech, according to the college’s athletics department.
“There was no longer a suitable nickname for the Princeton player I coached,” said Bob Surace, head football coach, in a statement.
“He was a ‘Tiger’ in every way – a fierce competitor with endless energy, a loving partner and a caring friend.”
The president of the University of Georgia said one of its students was seriously injured, while the Israeli government said two Israelis were among the injured.
Police said the victims appeared to be mostly New Orleans locals, although many tourists were visiting for New Year’s Eve celebrations and the postponed Sugar Bowl, part of the college football playoffs.
Where did this happen?
Bourbon Street is a well-known nightlife and tourist hotspot full of restaurants, bars and clubs with live music.
It’s within New Orleans’ French Quarter, a lively area that attracts tourists and locals alike, especially to celebrate New Year’s.
It was founded by the French in 1718, and the first street grid designed at that time is at the heart of the city’s tourist attractions.
Every year, more than a million people flock to its famous Mardi Gras carnivals and spring fairs, famous for the strings of colorful beads worn by partygoers.
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