A man identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, an American citizen residing in Texas, drove his vehicle into the crowd celebrating the New Year on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and injuring around thirty. The suspect, holding a Daesh flag and explosive devices, was shot dead by the police.
On the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, New Orleans celebrated the advent of the new year on the festive street of Bourbon Street, known for its jazz clubs, its bars, its neon lights when, at 3:15 a.m., a man rushed his car “at high speed” into the middle of the crowd. Results: at least fifteen dead and around thirty injured. Once the vehicle stopped and after an exchange of fire with the police, during which two officers were hit, the suspect was shot and then identified by the FBI, the federal agency responsible for the investigation.
His name? Shamsud-Din Jabbar. An American citizen, born in Beaumont, Texas, residing in Houston, 600 km from New Orleans. In a YouTube video from 2020, the man presents himself as a real estate agent with his military experience in the American army, which taught him how to “take everything seriously”. His criminal record? Nothing or almost nothing. Two charges for minor offenses: theft in 2002 and driving with an invalid license in 2005, revealed the New York Times.
During his murderous expedition quickly qualified “terrorist act” by the authorities, Shamsud-Din Jabbar had loaded into his vehicle, a white Ford van rented from an individual via an application, a flag of the Islamic State group as well as several weapons and explosive devices. Some, found in the neighborhood, were deactivated by the police, the FBI announced during a press conference organized at midday on Wednesday.
Defective terminals
Asked about the configuration of the scene that allowed a van to plow onto a busy street on one of the busiest nights of the year, New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick , explained that the bollards preventing automobile traffic along Bourbon Street were being replaced – because they were dysfunctional – at the time of the attack. The interim security plan put in place to replace them did not “didn't work”, she regretted. The suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was able to bypass a police car blocking access and get to the sidewalk with his pick-up.
The attack sparked outraged reactions from around the world. In the United States, President Joe Biden wrote that “nothing justified the violence, whatever it was”. Donald Trump, for his part, blamed immigration. “When I said that the criminals coming into our country were far worse than those inside, that claim was constantly refuted by Democrats and the 'fake news media,' but it was proven to be true .” Emmanuel Macron, for his part, chose to express, on behalf of all French people, his ” thoughts “ to the families of the victims and the injured as well as to the American people whose “We share the pain.”
The FBI looking for accomplices
For now, the FBI is continuing its investigation, looking for Shamsud-Din Jabbar's accomplices. During the press conference organized yesterday, the organization said in particular that it was working to “determine the individual’s potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations.” “We do not believe that Jabbar is solely responsible”had initially declared Alethea Duncan, special agent of the organization, without providing much more detail.
The AP agency obtained a police bulletin late this afternoon in which mention is made of images from surveillance cameras. These reportedly show three men and a woman installing one of the explosive devices found in the neighborhood. At least four people are therefore still being sought, even though the Sugar Bowl, a major university football match, supposed to be held on Wednesday evening and bringing together thousands of spectators, has been postponed to take place this Thursday.
