The driver of a pickup truck rammed into a crowd of people before getting out and opening fire at police, witnesses have said
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At least ten people have been killed and dozens more injured after an SUV ran into a crowd celebrating New Year in New Orleans, Louisiana, the city authorities have said.
The incident occurred in the city’s French Quarter at around 3:15 am local time, WGNO said on Wednesday. The area, which has numerous bars and restaurants, is popular with tourists.
New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) chief Anne Kirkpatrick told reporters that the attacker drove down Bourbon Street with the “clear intent» of causing «carnage.» Ten people were killed, and 35 injured, she said.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry described what happened as “a horrific act of violence.” He wrote on X that he and his wife were praying for the victims and first responders. He also urged the public to avoid the area where the incident happened.
Dozens of police officers and paramedics have responded to the incident, which reportedly led to Bourbon Street being shut down.
The attack took place as New Orleans is preparing to host the Sugar Bowl on Wednesday night. The iconic college football game, which has been played in the city annually since 1935, gathers thousands of fans from around the US. This year, the University of Georgia and University of Notre Dame will compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
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01 January 2025
19:40 GMT
The police do not have a final number of deaths in the incident, Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick has said. Ten deaths have been confirmed, and several people were taken to the hospital in critical condition, she added.
- 19:40 GMT
During a press conference at the New Orleans Police Department, an FBI spokesperson has confirmed that the suspect was a US army veteran who had been discharged.
- 19:30 GMT
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has announced mobilization of a military police company to assist the New Orleans Police Department in investigating the incident. It was previously reported that the suspect, who was born in Texas, had served in the US military.
- 19:06 GMT
According to the New York Times, in a 2022 divorce filing, the suspect disclosed earning $120,000 annually while working at consulting firm Deloitte. However, he had also acknowledged financial struggles in an earlier email, citing over $27,000 in overdue mortgage payments with foreclosure looming and $16,000 in credit card debt accumulated due to living expenses and legal fees.
- 18:40 GMT
Law enforcement officials have reportedly identified the suspect in the attack as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, from Texas.
- 18:14 GMT
The suspect in the New Orleans crowd attack was a US citizen, CNN has reported, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
Officials have not yet released any additional information on the suspect, who was confirmed dead by the FBI.
- 18:12 GMT
The suspect was in possession of an ISIS flag at the time of the incident, CNN has reported, citing two law enforcement sources.
Multiple suspected explosive devices were reportedly found in an ice chest in the pickup truck used in the attack.
The FBI previously said it is treating the attack as an “act of terrorism.”
Investigators are looking into the suspect’s political or religious views and whether he was associated with a known terrorist organization, CNN wrote.
- 16:58 GMT
The federal authorities have traced the pickup truck used in the New Orleans attack to a border crossing at Eagle Pass, Texas two days prior to the incident, according to Fox News. The vehicle, a white Ford F-150 Lightning with Texas license plates, was recorded by a license plate reader at the Eagle Pass border crossing. However, it remains unclear whether the suspect was driving the vehicle at the time of the crossing.
The truck was reportedly rented through a car-sharing app.
- 16:47 GMT
Investigators are working to establish whether the deceased suspect recently entered the country and whether he had any connection to ISIS, ABC News has reported, citing law enforcement sources.
- 16:21 GMT
President-elect Donald Trump has commented on the attack in New Orleans on his Truth Social platform, linking it to broader concerns about crime in the US.
“When I said that the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country, that statement was constantly refuted by Democrats and the Fake News Media, but it turned out to be true,” he wrote, adding “the crime rate in our country is at a level that nobody has ever seen before.” Trump extended condolences to the victims of the attack and praised the New Orleans Police Department, pledging that his administration “will fully support the City of New Orleans as they investigate and recover from this act of pure evil.”
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