On the night of December 31 to January 1, a car-ramming attack hit the French Quarter of New Orleans, the death toll now stands at 15 dead and dozens injured. The suspect, a former army veteran, did not act alone according to new elements
The investigation continues the day after the tragedy that struck New Orleans on the night of December 31 to January 1. The authorities reveal that the human toll has been revised upwards. According to information from WGNO, At least 15 people died after a vehicle violently slammed into a crowd in the French tourist district at the intersection of Canal and Bourbon Street. Dozens of injured, mainly residents of the city, were also recorded. They were dispersed to different hospitals to receive treatment. Dr. Dwight McKenna, New Orleans coroner, said autopsies on the victims would take several days before their identities were revealed.
New Orleans hosted a college football game, attracting a record crowd of visitors on New Year's Eve.”A horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street earlier this morning. I urge everyone present near the scene to avoid the area“, said Jeff Landry, the governor of Louisiana, on X with consternation. The FBI opened an investigation for an “act of terrorism” after this car-ramming attack in New Orleans.
The suspect identified by the FBI is an American citizen
The FBI quickly confirmed the identity of the suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran from Texas. Aged 42, he allegedly acted in a planned attack, in conjunction with accomplices. Video reviewed by investigators shows three men and a woman placing an improvised explosive device in the vehicle used in the attack. An Islamic State (IS) flag was found in the vehicle, along with weapons and an explosive device. Faced with the seriousness of the facts, President Joe Biden said he had been informed of the attack and promised full support to the city of New Orleans. International leaders, including Emmanuel Macron and François Bayrou, expressed solidarity and called for strengthening the fight against terrorism.
The local police, supported by the emergency services, remain mobilized to manage the consequences of this tragedy. The local community and the many tourists present there are waiting for answers. On X, Prime Minister François Bayrou called for “combat” the “terrorism”, “together”. “The terrorism that struck in New Orleans aims to destroy what we hold most dear, innocent citizens, families, and the values that make us live together”he wrote. Emmanuel Macron also communicated about this attack: “Our thoughts are with the families of the victims and those injured, as well as with the American people whose grief we share.”
