Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free
Your guide to what the 2024 US elections mean for Washington and the world
The FBI is investigating an “act of terrorism” after at least 15 people were killed and 35 others injured Wednesday morning when a man drove a pickup truck into a large crowd in the heart of New Orleans.
President Joe Biden said Wednesday evening that authorities were also investigating the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas to see if it was linked to the New Orleans attack.
The FBI has identified the suspect in the New Orleans attack as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old man. WE citizen of Texas. The FBI said it did not believe he was solely responsible for the attack and said the investigation was “ongoing.”
The agency, which took the lead in the investigation, said an ISIS flag was located on the vehicle and was “now working to determine the subject’s potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations“.
The U.S. Army said Jabbar served as a human resources specialist and information technology specialist between 2007 and 2020. His service included a deployment to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said authorities were working to “hunt down some bad people” and secure the city. The New Orleans coroner confirmed Wednesday evening that the death toll was at least 15 people.
Biden said Jabbar posted videos on social media before the New Orleans attack, claiming he was inspired by Isis.
The president said authorities were also investigating the Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas earlier Wednesday, to see if there was a connection to the New Orleans attack.
Biden, speaking from Camp David, said there was “nothing to report on that.” But Elon Musk, Tesla’s chief executive, wrote on X that the explosion “likely appears to be an act of terrorism.”
Musk also said that the Cybertruck and F-150 pickup truck used in the New Orleans attack were rented from the same rental car company. “Maybe they’re related somehow.”
The attack in Louisiana’s largest city took place early on New Year’s Day along Bourbon Street, one of the main thoroughfares of the historic French Quarter, which is packed with bars, restaurants and concert halls and attracts national and international visitors.
Anne Kirkpatrick, superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department, said that around 3:15 a.m. local time, a man was driving a van on Bourbon Street at a “very fast pace.” The FBI said the truck was rented.
“It was very intentional behavior. This man was trying to run over as many people as possible,” Kirkpatrick added. “He was determined to create the carnage and damage he caused.”
The FBI also said that “weapons and a potential improvised explosive device were located in the subject’s vehicle.” Authorities said other explosive devices were found elsewhere in the French Quarter.
The agency added that its bomb disposal technicians “are working with our law enforcement partners to determine whether any of these devices are viable, and will work to make these devices safe.”
Kirkpatrick said two officers were shot by the driver and are in stable condition. The FBI said the attacker was dead.
LaToya Cantrell, the mayor of New Orleans, said the city had been hit by a “terrorist attack,” without giving further details.
“What I’m asking right now are prayers for those who have lost their lives in the city of New Orleans because of this tragedy,” she said.
Biden said he had asked officials to “ensure all resources are available as federal, state and local law enforcement work diligently to get to the bottom of what happened as quickly as possible.” possible and to ensure that no threat of any kind remains.”
President-elect Donald Trump described the incident as an “act of pure evil” on his social media platform Truth Social, and said his new administration would “fully support the city of New Orleans as it investigates and is recovering” from the attack.
New Orleans is often packed with visitors during the holiday season, but the city was especially crowded on New Year’s Eve this year due to Wednesday’s Sugar Bowl football game between the University of Georgia and the University of Notre Dame. Lady.
Authorities said the sporting event would be postponed for a day and urged people to avoid the area where the attack took place.
