New Orleans Attack: Current Understanding of the Incident
Authorities are probing the New Orleans attack as a potential act of terrorism, following the deaths of at least 15 individuals and injuries to dozens more. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The New Year’s car-ramming and shooting incident left 15 people dead and numerous others injured as authorities continue to search for potential accomplices.
The U.S. federal authorities are treating the attack in New Orleans, Louisiana, as an “act of terrorism.” At least 15 individuals were killed and dozens more hurt when a U.S. Army veteran drove an SUV into a crowd gathered to celebrate New Year's.
**How the attack unfolded**
Chaos broke out in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter around 3:15 a.m. on January 1, 2025. Revelers on Bourbon Street were struck by a white Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck that barreled through the crowded area.
Witnesses recounted how the truck sped down the street, swerving into pedestrians before crashing into a construction crane.
Following the crash, the driver exited the vehicle and opened fire on police officers responding to the scene with an assault rifle. This exchange resulted in two officers being injured before law enforcement fatally shot the suspect, identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar.
Weapons and suspected explosive devices were located inside the vehicle and nearby, raising concerns about premeditation and possible accomplices.
**Victims and casualties**
The attack led to 15 fatalities, including the suspect. Twelve victims died at the scene, while three others later lost their lives at local hospitals. Among the deceased were both locals and tourists celebrating the New Year.
An additional 35 individuals were injured, including two police officers who sustained gunshot wounds during the confrontation with Jabbar. Many wounded victims remain hospitalized, with several in critical condition.
**‘ISIS-Inspired’ U.S. Army veteran**
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the attack's suspect, was a U.S. Army veteran who served on active duty from 2007 to 2015 and continued in the Army Reserve until 2020. He was deployed to Afghanistan between February 2009 and January 2010 and held the rank of staff sergeant at his discharge.
An Islamic State flag was found in Jabbar's vehicle, prompting federal investigators to consider the event as a potential terrorist attack. Officials noted that Jabbar converted to Islam within the past year and may have been radicalized online.
“Mere hours before the attack, he posted videos on social media indicating that he was inspired by ISIS and expressed a desire to kill,” President Joe Biden stated in his national address. However, no direct communication between Jabbar and ISIS has been verified.
Hailing from Beaumont, Texas, Jabbar had no significant criminal record, but reports indicated he exhibited erratic behavior in recent months.
**Search for suspected accomplices**
Authorities suspect that Jabbar may not have acted alone. The FBI has uncovered evidence suggesting some level of coordination, including pipe bombs believed to be linked to a wireless detonator found in his truck.
“We do not believe Jabbar acted entirely on his own and are aggressively pursuing every lead,” said FBI Assistant Special Agent Alethea Duncan. Law enforcement is exploring leads involving Jabbar’s known associates and any potential accomplices who may have aided in the planning or execution of the attack.
**Possible links to Cybertruck blast**
On the same day, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, resulting in one death and seven injuries. Both vehicles used in these incidents were rented through the same app, raising questions of a coordinated attack.
Although no definitive connection has been made between the New Orleans attack and the Las Vegas explosion, federal investigators are looking into a “possible connection,” as Biden warned the public against jumping to conclusions.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
The U.S. federal authorities are treating the attack in New Orleans, Louisiana, as an “act of terrorism.” At least 15 individuals were killed and dozens more hurt when a U.S. Army veteran drove an SUV into a crowd gathered to celebrate New Year's.
**How the attack unfolded**
Chaos broke out in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter around 3:15 a.m. on January 1, 2025. Revelers on Bourbon Street were struck by a white Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck that barreled through the crowded area.
Witnesses recounted how the truck sped down the street, swerving into pedestrians before crashing into a construction crane.
Following the crash, the driver exited the vehicle and opened fire on police officers responding to the scene with an assault rifle. This exchange resulted in two officers being injured before law enforcement fatally shot the suspect, identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar.
Weapons and suspected explosive devices were located inside the vehicle and nearby, raising concerns about premeditation and possible accomplices.
**Victims and casualties**
The attack led to 15 fatalities, including the suspect. Twelve victims died at the scene, while three others later lost their lives at local hospitals. Among the deceased were both locals and tourists celebrating the New Year.
An additional 35 individuals were injured, including two police officers who sustained gunshot wounds during the confrontation with Jabbar. Many wounded victims remain hospitalized, with several in critical condition.
**‘ISIS-Inspired’ U.S. Army veteran**
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the attack's suspect, was a U.S. Army veteran who served on active duty from 2007 to 2015 and continued in the Army Reserve until 2020. He was deployed to Afghanistan between February 2009 and January 2010 and held the rank of staff sergeant at his discharge.
An Islamic State flag was found in Jabbar's vehicle, prompting federal investigators to consider the event as a potential terrorist attack. Officials noted that Jabbar converted to Islam within the past year and may have been radicalized online.
“Mere hours before the attack, he posted videos on social media indicating that he was inspired by ISIS and expressed a desire to kill,” President Joe Biden stated in his national address. However, no direct communication between Jabbar and ISIS has been verified.
Hailing from Beaumont, Texas, Jabbar had no significant criminal record, but reports indicated he exhibited erratic behavior in recent months.
**Search for suspected accomplices**
Authorities suspect that Jabbar may not have acted alone. The FBI has uncovered evidence suggesting some level of coordination, including pipe bombs believed to be linked to a wireless detonator found in his truck.
“We do not believe Jabbar acted entirely on his own and are aggressively pursuing every lead,” said FBI Assistant Special Agent Alethea Duncan. Law enforcement is exploring leads involving Jabbar’s known associates and any potential accomplices who may have aided in the planning or execution of the attack.
**Possible links to Cybertruck blast**
On the same day, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, resulting in one death and seven injuries. Both vehicles used in these incidents were rented through the same app, raising questions of a coordinated attack.
Although no definitive connection has been made between the New Orleans attack and the Las Vegas explosion, federal investigators are looking into a “possible connection,” as Biden warned the public against jumping to conclusions.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
