Perpetrator of Louisiana truck ramming acted alone, FBI says

The author of the “terrorist” vehicle-ramming attack in Louisiana, which killed at least 14 people Wednesday morning in New Orleans, acted alone. This was announced by the FBI, the United States federal police, at a press conference Thursday morning, in light of the information collected so far.

The main suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, is a 42-year-old American citizen born in Texas. On Wednesday, authorities said he could have counted on the help of accomplices.

All resources of FBI are focused on pursuing every piece of evidence, every lead, every interview we havesaid the deputy director of the FBI’s anti-terrorism division, Christopher Raia, who however recalled that the investigation was still in its early stages.

It was an act of terrorism. It was premeditated and an evil act.

The FBI received more than 400 tips from the public. His special agents also seized three cell phones and two computers linked to the perpetrator of the attack.

Two homemade explosive devices were found in the French Quarter area, where the events took place. They were functional, hidden in coolers, and were defused on site.

At least 14 dead and 35 injured

Around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday night, a man driving a pickup truck was driving on Canal Street before going around the barricades at the corner of Bourbon Street, a very fast speed to capture the people who were celebrating the arrival of the new year there.

He was relentless in creating the carnage and damage he didsaid New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick.

His run ended in a mobile aerial platform parked on Bourbon Street.

After hitting the crowd, he exited the vehicle and fired at local law enforcement. [Elles] responded and the individual was pronounced dead on the spot. declared the FBI. Two officers were injured in the shooting.

A flag of the Islamic State armed group was found in the back of his rented van in Texas on December 30. During his trip to New Orleans, he published a series of five videos to declare his support for the Islamic State armed group.

Shamsud-Din Jabbar served in the U.S. Army from 2007 to 2020 as a human resources and information technology specialist. After leaving active duty in January 2015, Jabbar served in the Army Reserve until July 2020. He had risen to the rank of master sergeant before leaving the military and working as a real estate agent in Houston.

Football

New Orleans was preparing to celebrate a major college football game the day of the attack, which was pushed back to Thursday in the wake of the tragedy.

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New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick offered reassurance Thursday morning that security had been increased for the game. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry agreed, saying he was confident the kickoff would take place at 3 p.m. this afternoon local time.

Note that this Louisiana city must also welcome the 59^e Super Bowl – the grand final of the National Football League (NFL) – on February 9.

Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas

One person died yesterday after a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. The victim was in the van.

In the evening, Joe Biden said that authorities were investigating whether the two events were linked, adding that there was no indication. so far.

At this time, there is no irrefutable link between the two events, insisted FBI spokesperson Christopher Raia.

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Tesla boss Elon Musk said yesterday on X that the explosion had was caused by large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the back of the rented Cybertruck and was not related to the vehicle itselfwithout providing further details.

The rear of the vehicle contained cans of gasoline and large fireworks mortarsfor his part indicated the sheriff of Las Vegas, Kevin McMahill.

With information from Agence France-Presse