A driver plowed through a New Orleans crowd in an alleged terrorist attack just a few hours into 2025, killing ten victims and injuring about 35 others, authorities said.
The attacker drove a truck into the crowd of pedestrians at about 3:17 a.m. at the intersection of Bourbon and Canal streets before striking a construction vehicle, according to the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD).
The suspect was identified Wednesday morning by NOLA.com as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, who was reportedly born and raised in Texas and served in the military. The suspect was carrying an ISIS flag, a source apparently told NOLA.com.
NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick told reporters at a press conference aired by NOLA.com that the suspect had been speeding in his pickup truck. “It was a very intentional behavior. This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could. It was not a DUI [Driving Under the Influence] situation,” she added. (RELATED: REPORT: Taxi Driver Drives Into Crowd On Busy Part Of City On Christmas Day, Striking Six People)
The suspect had driven around police barricades and was “hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did,” she said.
After crashing his truck, the suspect fired at officers responding to distress calls coming from the scene, injuring two officers. The officers fired back and killed the suspect, the NOPD added.
The injured officers were last known to be in stable condition at an area hospital. Emergency personnel also took other injured victims to area hospitals, the police said.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell characterized the fatal incident a “terrorist attack” at the press conference.
“I have been in direct contact with the White House, with [Louisiana] Governor [Jeff] Landry and of course a unified command who [sic] is present here,” Cantrell added.
New Orleans Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Assistant Special Agent Alethea Duncan, speaking at the same conference, differed with the mayor.
“This is not a terrorist event,” Duncan said. “What it is right now is there [were] improvised explosive devices that was [sic] found and we are working on confirming if this is a viable device or not.”
Governor Landry described the incident as a “horrific act of violence”.
TOPSHOT – Police investigators surround a white truck that has been crashed into a work lift in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 1, 2025. At least 10 people were killed and 30 injured Wednesday when a vehicle plowed overnight into a New year’s crowd in the heart of the thriving New Orleans tourist district, authorities in the southern US city said. (Photo by Matthew HINTON / AFP) (Photo by MATTHEW HINTON/AFP via Getty Images)
A College Football Playoff game between the University of Georgia and Notre Dame is slated to take place Wednesday night at the Ceasar’s Superdome, a mile away from the scene. A parade — The Allstate Sugar Bowl New Year’s Eve Parade — was scheduled for the afternoon before and would go through various streets in the area, according to an NOPD statement.
Neither Bourbon nor Canal streets lay along the parade route, according to the statement, but the streets along the route were between about two and five miles away from the scene of the incident.
Jackson Square, where the city’s New Year’s Eve Concert and Countdown took place at 9 p.m. Tuesday, lies less than a mile from the scene. Police officers were in the vicinity to secure these major events, according to the statement.
More locals than tourists were injured as of the time of the press conference, Kirkpatrick told reporters.
The FBI is leading the investigation.
Clarifying – the TRUCK came across the border 2 days ago. We don’t know if this suspect was inside this truck. Working to confirm ID of suspect. https://t.co/041hPwERsO
— Aishah Hasnie (@aishahhasnie) January 1, 2025
Fox News reported Wednesday morning that the truck used in the attack had crossed the U.S.-Mexico border at Eagle Pass, Texas, in November. That has not been confirmed, and it is unclear where the suspect themselves originated from.
Police cordon off the intersection of Canal Street and Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 1, 2025. At least 10 people were killed and 30 injured Wednesday when a vehicle plowed overnight into a New year’s crowd in the heart of the thriving New Orleans tourist district, authorities in the southern US city said. (Photo by Matthew HINTON / AFP) (Photo by MATTHEW HINTON/AFP via Getty Images)
Updates are expected in what is an active, dynamic situation, according to authorities.
Investigators and city authorities have asked everyone to stay away from Bourbon and neighboring streets as the investigation continues.
This article was originally published at dailycaller.com
