Suspect Possessed IS Flag and Explosives... Dies After Shootout
FBI Classifies as 'Terrorism'... Possible Accomplices
On New Year's Day, a vehicle plowed into a crowd celebrating the New Year in downtown New Orleans, Louisiana, in the U.S. South Central region, resulting in dozens of casualties.
According to local police, at around 3:15 a.m. local time on the 1st, a pickup truck rammed into Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, a bustling area of New Orleans. So far, at least 10 local residents and tourists have died, and 35 have been injured.
The suspect exited the vehicle after it stopped and engaged in a shootout with police before dying. During this exchange, two police officers were also shot by the suspect.
New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick stated, "This was a very deliberate act. The suspect intended to hit as many people as possible," adding, "It was not a case of drunk driving, and based on the information we have gathered, it is a more complex and serious situation." She further said, "The suspect broke through barricades with the vehicle and then opened fire on officers at the scene." More than 300 police personnel were deployed at the time.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the suspect was 42-year-old Shamsud Dean Jabar. He was confirmed to be a U.S. citizen from Texas and a military veteran.
The FBI reported that an ISIS (Islamic State) flag was found in the suspect’s vehicle. The Associated Press and other outlets reported that the truck used in the attack was rented through Turo, a peer-to-peer car rental platform connecting private vehicle owners with renters.
Several devices suspected to be improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found on the truck and at the scene. Authorities are investigating the possibility that this was not a lone act.
The FBI has classified the incident as an act of terrorism and is conducting an investigation. They are examining whether the suspect’s political or religious views motivated the attack and if there are any connections to terrorist organizations.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement, "We are working closely with relevant law enforcement agencies to respond to this incident."
The FBI is giving significant consideration to the possibility of accomplices. At a press conference, an FBI official said, "We do not believe this was a lone act by the suspect," adding, "We are not ruling out any possibilities." According to the AP, three men and one woman were seen installing improvised explosive devices at the scene.
A couple who were at the scene told CBS News, "We heard a crash from down the street, and then a white truck hit the barricade at high speed."
The French Quarter is a tourist attraction in New Orleans, and Bourbon Street is one of its iconic streets, known worldwide for its New Year's Eve parties. In addition to the people gathered for the New Year’s event, crowds had also gathered around the Superdome ahead of the college football Sugar Bowl playoff game.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency that day. Furthermore, the college football Sugar Bowl semifinal game between the University of Georgia and the University of Notre Dame, scheduled for 7 p.m. at the 70,000-seat Superdome, was postponed by 24 hours to the following day.
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