FBI says it believes New Orleans terror suspect was not solely responsible
An Army veteran, intent on causing mass casualties, drove a rented pickup truck through barricades and into a crowd of New Year’s revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans early Wednesday. The attack, which spanned several blocks of the historic French Quarter, left at least 15 people dead and dozens injured, according to city and federal officials.
The suspect, identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, from Texas, drove the vehicle at high speed while firing a gun into the crowd, authorities said. After plowing through the streets, Jabbar exited the truck wielding an assault rifle and engaged police in a shootout. Officers returned fire, killing him. Jabbar, a U.S.-born Army veteran, was armed with both an assault rifle and a handgun, law enforcement sources told ABC News.
The chaotic scene left two police officers injured—one by gunfire and another pinned by the vehicle. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick reported that multiple victims remain in critical condition.
The FBI is investigating the attack and believes Jabbar may not have acted alone. Althea Duncan, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s New Orleans field office, appealed to the public for information about Jabbar’s activities leading up to the attack.
“We do not believe Jabbar was solely responsible,” Duncan said at a press conference. “We’re actively pursuing leads, including identifying potential accomplices. If anyone had any interaction with Jabbar in the last 72 hours, we urge you to come forward.”
Surveillance footage reportedly shows several individuals planting what appear to be explosive devices near the site before the attack. This evidence has led investigators to suspect a larger plot. Authorities are urgently working to identify those seen on video and bring them into custody.
The FBI has also secured a suspicious package near Orleans Street and Bourbon Street, detonating it safely after evacuating the area.
In Houston, Texas, law enforcement conducted operations connected to the New Orleans attack. The FBI and Harris County Sheriff’s Office announced they had secured a perimeter in a residential area as part of their investigation, advising residents to avoid the location.
Representative Troy Carter, D-Louisiana, stated the death toll has risen to 15, with 25 additional victims hospitalized. Superintendent Kirkpatrick confirmed at least 10 deaths during her briefing but noted that many injured remain in critical condition, and the toll may rise.
The investigation into the attack is ongoing, with officials racing to uncover the full scope of Jabbar’s actions and any collaborators involved in the deadly incident.