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At least ten people died after a car ramming attack in New Orleans on Wednesday. The main suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabba, was killed, but investigators are looking for accomplices. Several questions remain unanswered in this investigation.
The excitement remains high in New Orleans, but the investigation continues, while a man – an individual probably aged 42 according to the latest information – rushed his vehicle into the crowd this Wednesday, January 1 in the French Quarter of this city in the southern United States, leaving at least ten dead and 35 injured. The alleged perpetrator, who fled after exchanges of fire in which two police officers were injured, died, the FBI said. The investigation continues to find out the real intentions of the alleged murderer. But many questions have already been raised about this attack.
An assailant who did not act alone?
The first elements of information on the profile of the suspect were provided by the American authorities. It involved a former soldier – who would have served in the American army – aged 42, called Shamsud-Din Jabbar. The latter would be from Texas. The main suspect, shot dead by the police, could however “not have acted alone”. “We don't believe Jabbar was solely responsible,” said FBI agent Alethia Duncan.
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Attack in New Orleans: complicity, weapons, ex-soldier… What do we know about Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the alleged suspect?
The reason? Investigators theorize that the explosive devices were found in the French Quarter of New Orleans. These explosive devices are in addition to the homemade bomb and the weapons that were found in the suspect's vehicle. According to the Associated Press news agency, these were placed “by three men and a woman”. The investigation continues to find the accomplices.
A man already known to the justice services?
During the press conference organized this Wednesday, January 1, investigators indicated that the suspect was known to American justice services. The forty-year-old indeed had a criminal record. According to our colleagues at Fox NewsShamsud-Din Jabbar, the suspect was arrested in 2002 in Katy, Texas, for misdemeanor theft, then again three years later in Beaumont for driving with an invalid license.
The man is suspected of having links to Islamist terrorism. A Daesh flag was notably found in the vehicle he used. He also posted videos on social media “indicating he was inspired by the Islamic State, expressing a desire to kill,” Joe Biden said in his address to the nation, citing FBI information.
A vehicle rented through an “unconventional” site?
The authorities are closely interested in the “Turo” site, considered on the other side of the Atlantic as the “Airbnb” of car rental. This platform makes it possible to connect vehicle owners with people potentially interested in renting them. It is on this “unconventional” site according to investigators that the vehicle used during the attack was allegedly rented. According to the first elements of the investigation, this “Ford” brand pickup originally belonged to a man from Houston. According to CNN, he has so far refused to comment on his links with the main suspect.
Protective barricades that were not raised?
To prevent this type of attack, steel barricades were installed at the intersection of Bourbon Street and Canal Street in New Orleans several years ago. According to our colleagues at CNNthese structures had been installed following the attack in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes): on July 14, 2016, a car-ramming attack on the Promenade des Anglais left 86 dead. On Bourbon Street in New Orleans – a road heavily used by pedestrians – several incidents had also prompted the authorities to deploy protective structures.
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This Wednesday, January 1, however, several witnesses affirm that these barricades were not raised. Questioned by our colleagues, Michael Gullaury, an American who works near the site of the attack, affirms that he has “never” seen these barricades raised over the last seven years. Jean-Paul Morrell, a New Orleans city councilor, indicated that these barricades were being repaired. The latter also claims that the suspect “circumvented the protective barriers by driving on the sidewalk”. Jeff Landry, Republican governor, for his part recognized “gaps in the system”: “We are going to be transparent and make sure we fill them as best we can.”
