A tragic truck attack in New Orleans’ French Quarter on New Year’s Day left at least 15 people dead and dozens injured when a man drove a pickup truck into a crowd of revelers. The attacker, identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a US Army veteran from Texas, was killed in a shootout with police shortly after the incident.
The attack occurred around 3:15 a.m. Jabbar reportedly drove a white Ford F-150 pickup truck at high speed into pedestrians before exiting the vehicle and exchanging gunfire with police. Two officers were injured in the shootout but are in stable condition. Authorities also discovered and neutralized two homemade bombs at the scene.
The FBI confirmed that an ISIS flag was found in the vehicle and is investigating Jabbar’s possible connections to terrorist organizations. US President Joe Biden called the attack “despicable,” noting that Jabbar had posted videos online expressing ISIS-inspired views just hours before the attack.
The FBI has stated that they do not believe Jabbar acted alone and are actively searching for potential accomplices.
The attack has drawn international condemnation. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity with the victims, emphasizing the cultural and historical significance of New Orleans to France. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also denounced the attack and extended condolences.
Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey joined in condemning the violence, with Turkish officials expressing hope that the investigation would quickly reveal the full motive and any additional perpetrators. The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, stated, “There is no excuse for such violence.”
Authorities are also investigating a possible connection between the New Orleans attack and a deadly explosion involving a Tesla Cybertruck outside a hotel owned by President-elect Donald Trump in Las Vegas on the same day. While no direct link has been confirmed, the proximity of the two incidents has raised questions.
As investigations continue, law enforcement and intelligence agencies are working to uncover the full scope of Jabbar’s motivations and any potential accomplices.
