An aerial view of the aftermath of a truck ramming in New Orleans on Wednesday, in which at least 10 people were killed. (AP pic via Creative Commons 4.0 license).
A U.S. Army veteran who drove a pickup truck into a New Year’s crowd in New Orleans acted alone, the FBI confirmed to the Associated Press on Thursday. The attack, which killed 14 people and injured dozens, has been classified as an act of terrorism inspired by the Islamic State group.
The attacker, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas, posted videos on Facebook hours before the rampage. In the videos, he pledged allegiance to IS and claimed he joined the group last summer. “This was an act of terrorism. It was premeditated and an evil act,” said Christopher Raia, deputy assistant director of the FBI’s counterterrorism division.
Jabbar plowed a rented truck into a crowded Bourbon Street after steering around a police blockade. He was shot and killed by police during a firefight. Officials initially believed others may have been involved but later determined Jabbar acted alone. Investigators found an IS flag, guns, and explosives in the truck, along with additional explosive devices elsewhere in the French Quarter.
Witnesses told the Associated Press that the scene was chaotic and horrifying. “The truck was barreling through, throwing people like in a movie scene, throwing people into the air,” said 18-year-old Zion Parsons of Gulfport, Mississippi. His friend Nikyra Dedeaux was among the dead. “Bodies, bodies all up and down the street, everybody screaming and hollering,” he added.
The attack turned the festive Bourbon Street into a grim scene of carnage, with bloodied bodies and panicked pedestrians seeking shelter in nearby buildings. Authorities worked through the night to clear the area, with Bourbon Street expected to reopen Thursday.
The attack has raised concerns about security measures. A vehicle barrier system, meant to protect pedestrians, was under repair in preparation for next month’s Super Bowl. Jabbar bypassed existing police blockades and exited his truck to fire at officers before being killed. Two officers were injured and remain in stable condition.
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said Jabbar was determined to inflict as much harm as possible. “The driver defeated safety measures in place to protect pedestrians and was hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did,” she said. “This is not just an act of terrorism. This is evil.”
President Joe Biden addressed the nation, offering condolences to the victims and the people of New Orleans. “I want you to know I grieve with you. Our nation grieves with you as you mourn and as you heal,” Biden said from Camp David.
Jabbar served in the U.S. Army from 2007 to 2020, including a deployment to Afghanistan. Federal investigators are now examining his connections to IS and whether he had any prior involvement in terror plots. The FBI has warned of increased terrorism threats linked to global conflicts, including the Israel-Hamas war.
While New Orleans begins to recover, questions remain about how the attack could have been prevented. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry urged the public to stay away from the area, which remains an active crime scene.
The Associated Press produced this report.
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