New Orleans vehicle attack: FBI investigating attack as an ‘act of terrorism’; suspect shot dead by police – latest updates
FBI: attack being treated as ‘act of terrorism’
Federal investigators say the vehicle attack is being treated as an “act of terrorism”.
The suspect, Jabbar, was wearing body armor at the time he carried out the attack. His rental truck flew a black flag, but it is not clear what organization the flag represented.
Key events
Kamala Harris, the vice-president, has posted condolences to the victims of the New Year’s Day vehicle attack in New Orleans to X, calling the episode “reprehensible and unacceptable”:
Last night should have been a joyous celebration of the new year. Instead, a horrific incident occurred that left the New Orleans community mourning.
Last night should have been a joyous celebration of the new year. Instead, a horrific incident occurred that left the New Orleans community mourning. The FBI is investigating this incident as an act of terrorism.
My thoughts are with the victims of this tragedy and their…
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) January 1, 2025
My thoughts are with the victims of this tragedy and their families. President Biden and I will continue to be briefed on this investigation, and our team remains in close contact with local officials. Any attack on any of our communities is reprehensible and unacceptable.
Here’s a summary of what we know so far about the New Orleans New Year’s Day vehicle attack:
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10 people were killed and at least 35 have been injured, 2 of which are police officers, after a pick-up truck plowed through New Orleans’s French Quarter on New Year’s Day.
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The suspect who drove the white Ford truck into a crowd on New Orleans’s famous Bourbon Street early morning on Wednesday has been named as 42 year old Shamsud-Din Jabbar. Jabbar is a US citizen and Texas resident, who allegedly drove a rental car into Louisiana to carry out the attack. Jabbar was shot dead by police after a gunfire exchange.
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The FBI says it does not believe Jabbar is solely responsible for the attack.
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Four explosive devices and a long gun were found in the vehicle that drove into the crowd. Jabbar’s Airbnb rental is being swept in case there are more.
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The FBI is treating the attack as an act of terrorism. A black ISIS flag was flown from Jabbar’s truck.
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The Allstate Sugar Bowl football game between the University of Georgia and Notre Dame scheduled for this evening at the nearby Superdome has been postponed in light of the vehicle attack.
US senator John Neely Kennedy, who is from Louisiana, promised at the podium that “you will find out what happened and who was responsible, or I will raise fresh hell and chase those in the federal government who are responsible for telling us what happened, like they stole Christmas.”
The Allstate Sugar Bowl is officially postponed for 24 hours.
The Sugar Bowl’s CEO Jeff Hundley said: “We reiterate our thanks to everyone up here for the important work they’re doing. We live in a fun and games world with what we do, but we certainly recognize the importance of this and we’re going to support it 100%.”
Landry issued an emergency declaration today, which will allow federal partners to bring necessary resources to the region.
Louisiana governor Jeff Landry said in the press briefing “We intend to be transparent in assessing any defects that may have existed in the system so we can address it. It’s the only way to ensure that any mistakes that were made are corrected.”
Landry reassured the public and said the Superdome and surrounding areas are safe.
The FBI reiterated in the press briefing that it is investigating the attack as an act of terrorism. While Shamsud-Din Jabbar has been named as a suspect, the FBI said it is looking for his possible accomplices in the attack.
“We do not believe Jabbar is solely responsible,” an FBI agent said.
The FBI asks “anyone who has information, pictures, or videos, to provide it to the FBI.” Tips can be called into 1-800-CALL-FBI.
A press briefing on the New Orleans vehicle attack is kicking off now.
Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, a University of Georgia student, has been named as one of those injured in the New Orleans vehicle attack early this morning.
Dedeaux originally from Gulfport, Mississippi, was visiting the city with her cousin and a friend, NOLA.com reports.
Dedeaux, 18, allegedly darted into the street into the path of the truck, which was deliberately driven through a crowd.
The Sugar Bowl, an annual college football game which takes place in New Orleans, was initially expected to go on as planned tonight but organizers are in talks to postpone the event in light of the vehicle attack.
The Allstate Sugar Bowl’s organizers issued a statement offering “thoughts and prayers” to victims of the vehicle attack, which took place early this morning on New Year’s Day.
Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish are set to play the University of Georgia’s Bulldogs at the Caesars Superdome – less than one mile away from Bourbon Street, where the attack occurred.
New Orlean’s office of homeland security And emergency preparedness is working to reunite families affected by the vehicle attack which took place this morning on Bourbon Street.
”Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. The City of New Orleans is working alongside local and state partners to provide support and ensure timely assistance for families,” The NOLA Ready website says.
FBI: attack being treated as ‘act of terrorism’
Federal investigators say the vehicle attack is being treated as an “act of terrorism”.
The suspect, Jabbar, was wearing body armor at the time he carried out the attack. His rental truck flew a black flag, but it is not clear what organization the flag represented.
The Guardian can confirm multiple bomb sniffing dogs being led toward the Airbnb rental linked to Jabbar, who allegedly drove into Louisiana from Texas in a rental car.
The suspect, Jabbar, 42, is a US citizen and a Texas resident.
Jabbar has a previous criminal record which includes theft and driving with a suspended license.
