A person drove into a crowd during New Year's celebrations in New Orleans, leaving at least 10 dead and more than 30 injured. Police confirmed that the suspect was killed in a shootout with officers. Federal authorities are investigating the incident as an act of terrorism.
At least 10 people were killed and more than 30 injured when a vehicle plowed into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans' French Quarter and then opened fire during New Year's celebrations early Wednesday, leaving US federal authorities investigate it as an act of terrorism.
Police officers confirmed the death of the suspect during an exchange of gunfire but did not elaborate on details while they continue the investigation into the incident.
“We know the perpetrator has been murdered,” said New Orleans City Councilman Oliver Thomas. “As we search for a motive, let us remember that there is no way to make sense of evil.”
Authorities did not immediately identify the suspect.
NBC News, citing three unnamed high-ranking law enforcement sources, identified the suspect as Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42. No further details are known at this time.
NOLA.com, citing an unnamed law enforcement source, reported that the same suspect was carrying an ISIS flag in the truck. The US military did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the press.
US President Joe Biden was informed of the situation. “I have directed my team to ensure all resources are available as law enforcement works to investigate the accident,” he said in a statement.
Biden, who will hand over power to President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, praised “the brave and rapid response of local law enforcement to prevent even more deaths and injuries. (…) My heart goes out to the victims and their families.” families who were simply trying to celebrate the holiday. There is no justification for any type of violence and we will not tolerate any attack on any of our nation's communities.”
“Our hearts go out to all of the innocent victims and their loved ones, including the brave officers of the New Orleans Police Department. The Trump administration will fully support the city of New Orleans as they investigate and recover from this act of pure evil! “Trump warned in a publication on his Truth Social network.
Attacker “determined” to cause maximum damage
In the first reports, the identity of the alleged attacker was not known.
“From what I understand, there is a possibility that other suspects could be involved in this, and everyone needs to work together to determine who these individuals are and find them,” New Orleans City Council President Helena Moreno told 4WWLTV.
“The information I received is that this individual was wearing full military gear, apparently not local, and that he was prepared, and he was very prepared to inflict horrible pain on the people of Bourbon Street,” Moreno said.
“This man was trying to run over as many people as he could,” Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said of the suspect in a televised news conference Wednesday. “He was determined to create the carnage and the damage he caused.”
The attack occurred around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday at the famed Canal and Bourbon Street intersection, known worldwide as one of the biggest destinations for New Year's Eve parties, and with crowds in the city growing in anticipation of the football playoff game. College American Sugar Bowl at the nearby Superdome later in the day.
The stadium was closed Wednesday morning, but the game was expected to go ahead as scheduled.
Hours after the attack, three coroner's office vans were parked at the corner of Bourbon and Canal streets, cordoned off with police tape and with crowds of stunned tourists waiting around.
Kirkpatrick said the driver shot at police and ran over two officers who were in the vehicle after it crashed. The agents are in stable condition, he added.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell called the incident a “terrorist attack,” but an FBI official contradicted her.
Alethea Duncan, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI's New Orleans field office, said, “This is not a terrorist event.” The FBI later said in a statement that “we are working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism.”
Duncan said a suspected improvised explosive device was found and the FBI was working to determine if it was viable.
Horrible act of violence
Kevin Garcia, 22, told CNN he saw a truck crashing into people on a sidewalk and heard gunshots. “A body flew towards me,” he recalled.
Whit Davis told the network that he heard people screaming and running backwards as he left a nightclub. “When they finally let us leave the club, the police waved us down and told us to leave the area quickly. I saw some bodies they couldn't even cover and tons of people getting first aid,” said Davis, 22.
Zion Parsons, 18, told NOLA.com that he and his two friends were leaving a restaurant on Bourbon Street when they heard a commotion and saw a white car speeding toward them.
He said he dodged the vehicle, but one of his friends was hit and his leg was “twisted and twisted over and around his back.” “You can see bodies, only bodies of people, only broken and bleeding bones,” he said.
The injured have been taken to at least five different hospitals, according to NOLA Ready, the city's emergency preparedness department.
“This morning a horrible act of violence took place on Bourbon Street,” Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry declared in X, urging the population not to approach the area of the attack.
New Orleans has seen shootings and car crashes into crowds before.
In November 2024, two people were killed and 10 others were wounded in two separate shootings along a route of a New Orleans parade and celebration attended by thousands of people, local media reported.
In February 2017, a van driven by a man who police said appeared to be very intoxicated plowed into a crowd of spectators watching the main Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, injuring more than 20 people.
The early Wednesday attack is the latest example of a vehicle being used as a weapon to carry out acts of mass violence, a trend that has alarmed authorities and which can be difficult to protect against.
Last month in Germany, a 50-year-old man was charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder after, police say, He drove his car into a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburgkilling five people and injuring dozens.
(With information from Reuters and The Associated Press)