A horrific attack on New Year’s Eve in New Orleans left 15 people dead after a U.S. Army veteran drove a pickup truck into a crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street. The driver, later identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar from Texas, was killed by police after he exited his vehicle and opened fire on officers. The FBI is investigating the attack as an act of terrorism, suspecting Jabbar may not have acted alone.
Hours before the carnage, Jabbar posted videos to social media, expressing support for the Islamic State group (ISIS) and a desire to kill. In addition to the truck, which bore an ISIS flag, authorities found guns, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and other explosives linked to the attack. The truck was reportedly steered around a police blockade, and the driver plowed into pedestrians, leaving a chaotic and bloodied scene.
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick condemned the attack as “evil” and stressed that the driver’s actions were deliberate. The FBI confirmed Jabbar’s connection to the U.S. military, having served in Afghanistan before leaving the Army in 2020. Investigators also uncovered two pipe bombs hidden in coolers, with surveillance footage showing other individuals potentially involved in planting devices across the city.
The tragedy has sparked widespread shock and grief, with President Joe Biden condemning the attack as a “heinous act” and offering condolences to the victims’ families. The FBI is actively working to uncover any links between Jabbar and terrorist groups and to determine the full extent of the attack.
The attack is being classified as the deadliest ISIS-inspired assault on U.S. soil in years. Local authorities continue to process the crime scene, which remains cordoned off as the city grapples with the aftermath.
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