New Orleans, LA | Authorities are actively investigating possible connections, associations, and co-conspirators linked to the suspect who drove a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year’s revelers in the bustling Bourbon Street area early Wednesday morning.
President Joe Biden condemned the attack, calling it a “despicable act of terrorism,” while urging patience as investigators work through the evidence.
“The situation is very fluid,” Biden said from Camp David late Wednesday evening. “The investigation is continuing to be active, and no one should jump to conclusions.”
The driver, identified by the FBI as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas, killed at least 15 people and injured 35 others before being killed in a shootout with police. Authorities have labeled the attack an act of terrorism. According to Biden, Jabbar posted videos on social media hours before the attack, declaring his allegiance to ISIS. An ISIS flag was discovered inside the rented truck, alongside explosives and other weapons.
A law enforcement source revealed that Jabbar had been wearing body armor and camouflage fatigues when he exited the vehicle armed with a rifle after crashing into the crowd. Authorities recovered an improvised explosive device (IED) in a cooler inside the truck, along with additional explosives planted nearby.
Authorities are now examining surveillance footage that reportedly shows at least three men and one woman placing suspected explosives around the French Quarter before the attack. “We do not believe the driver acted alone,” said Alethea Duncan, FBI assistant special agent in charge, during a press briefing. Investigators are now working to identify the individuals seen in the footage and their potential connection to Jabbar.
The victims of the attack included a young mother and a former Ivy League football player, among others who had gathered to celebrate the New Year and an upcoming college football playoff game. Families and friends are grieving the loss of loved ones as authorities work to piece together the timeline of events.
The attack has raised questions about the adequacy of security measures in the crowded Bourbon Street area. Despite existing bollards intended to block vehicle access, Mayor LaToya Cantrell acknowledged that some were under repair. “The bollards in place had been ineffective,” she said, noting the city had planned to improve security ahead of next month’s Super Bowl, scheduled to take place in New Orleans.
New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick defended the city’s security preparations, stating, “We did indeed have a plan. The terrorist defeated it.” Additional barriers, including patrol cars, had been deployed, but the measures failed to prevent the tragedy.
As federal authorities work alongside local law enforcement, President Biden vowed that the perpetrators and any accomplices would be brought to justice. “This heinous act does not define the resilience and spirit of New Orleans or this nation,” Biden said.
Investigators are urging anyone with information about the attack or the individuals seen placing explosives to contact authorities immediately.
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