During New Year’s Eve celebrations in New Orleans, a white truck crushed a crowd in a tourist-heavy area. The driver, who quickly jumped over the barricade and into the crowd, got out of the vehicle and started shooting, but was killed by the police teams who intervened. The death toll grew worse as the hours went by, with the number of confirmed deaths rising from 10 to 15 and nearly thirty people injured.
It was stated that the murderer was 42 years old, an American citizen, and according to reports in the US press, he was carrying an ISIS flag with him during the attack.
FBI: “Two bombs were defused”
Police spoke of a “terrorist act” and the FBI confirmed this version and also announced that they had found and defused two key bombs near the massacre site. A warrant was issued to investigate and search the area and vehicle by police and FBI agents.
According to New Orleans Police Department Chief Anne Kirkpatrick, it appears that most of those involved were local residents, not tourists.
The incidents took place around 03.15 in the morning in the famous French Quarter, where Bourbon Street and Iberville Street intersect. The city was also preparing to host the Sugar Bowl on Wednesday night, the annual college football game that draws fans from around the country. Police say all of Bourbon Street may remain closed for the next 48 hours.
The Governor of Louisiana speaks of a horrific act of violence. The man was traveling at high speed and “intended to cause carnage,” authorities reported at the press conference. The attacker also shot at the police, wounding two police officers.
A horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street early this morning.
Please join Sharon and me in praying for all the victims and first responders at the scene.
I urge anyone near the scene to stay away from the area.
— Governor Jeff Landry (@LAGovJeffLandry) January 1, 2025
Who is the murderer: “He was a former soldier, he was carrying the ISIS flag”
The person identified as the attacker was Shamsud Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old American citizen and former soldier who served in the US army, according to CNN. According to some security sources cited by the broadcaster, the man was seen wearing military equipment and carrying an ISIS flag at the time of the attack. The FBI said Din Jabbar may not have acted alone.
New Orleans City Councilman Jean-Paul Morrell said the alleged attacker rented the pickup truck used in the attack from a “non-traditional car rental site.” “As far as we know, the man was at the Airbnb and had stayed there before carrying out the attack,” the council member added to CNN.
Trump points to illegal immigration
Joe Biden called the mayor of New Orleans to provide his “full support.” “Violence of any kind is unjustifiable, and we will not tolerate any attacks on communities across our country,” the outgoing president said.
Donald Trump intervened by linking the attack to illegal immigration: “When I said that the criminals coming in were far worse than those in our country, that statement was repeatedly refuted by the Democrats and the Fake News Media, but it turned out to be a lie. It’s true,” he wrote in an op-ed on Truth. “The crime rate in our country is at levels no one has ever seen before. Our hearts go out to all the innocent victims and their loved ones, including the brave leaders of the New Orleans Police Department.”
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
