Hunt for terror cell linked to New Orleans attack after ISIS flag found in truck used to plough into crowds
1 January 2025, 17:42 | Updated: 2 January 2025, 15:41
A terror cell is believed to be behind the New Orleans attack, after an ISIS flag was found in the truck used to plough into crowds celebrating the New Year.
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At least 15 people died and 35 more were injured in the attack, which took place near the popular Bourbon Street, in the French Quarter, at around 3.15am local time on Wednesday (9.15am UK time).
The suspect behind the attack drove into a crowd of revellers before exiting his car and opening fire.
He was identified as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, a US citizen from Texas and a US army veteran.
Jabbar was in a rented Ford pickup truck and had an ISIS flag in the vehicle, the FBI said. He died after shooting at police.
Jabbar is not believed to be "solely responsible" for the attack.
"We are aggressively running down every lead, including those of his known associates," FBI assistant special agent in charge Alethea Duncan said.
Two improvised explosive devices were found at the scene, with the attack being investigated as a terrorist incident.
A senior police officer said it was "very intentional" and the perpetrator was "hell-bent" on creating "carnage". Some 300 police officers were at the scene during the attack, with two having been shot.
A handgun and an AR-style rifle were recovered from the scene.
Read more: Triple shooting in London leaves woman dead and two men injured as murder probe launched
Just hours after the attack, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside Donald Trump's hotel in Las Vegas.
It is being investigated as a potential terror attack, with one person having been killed and seven injured.
The vehicle was rented from the same place as the pickup truck used in New Orleans.
Some of the victims from the New Orleans attack have been identified by family and friends, including a young mother, a former college football player and a father-of-two.
Tiger Bech's mother, Michelle, told ABC her son was "on top of the world".
He had visited Louisiana for a long weekend with his college friends from Princeton.
Ni'kyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, 18, went to Bourbon Street with friends to celebrate the New Year, her mother said.
She ran into the path of the speeding truck after hearing gunfire.
Nicole Perez, 27, was also confirmed to have been hit by the truck while out with her friends.
Her employer and family spokesperson, Kimberly Usher-Fall, described her as "a great mother".
Meanwhile, Reggie Hunter, 37, was confirmed to have died by his cousin.
The father-of-two was remembered as the "life of the party" with a big heart.
A statement from New Orleans Coroner Dr Dwight McKenna on Wednesday confirmed that the death toll is now at least 15.
"We are deeply saddened by the tragic events that unfolded in the French Quarter," he said.
"Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected."
Eyewitnesses who were on Bourbon Street at the time of the attack told of their hair-raising near miss on Wednesday.
NPR reporter Drew Hawkins, who spoke to them, told LBC's Shelagh Fogarty: “The way they described it is they were walking down Bourbon Street, it was just after 3 in the morning, and they heard what sounded like crashing sounds behind them.
"They turn around and a white pickup truck speeding down the roads around the barricades and they actually managed to jump out of the way into an alcove - just in time for the truck to zoom by and miss them."
Videos reportedly taken from the scene show multiple people on the ground. Gunfire can be heard in the background, with people seen running away.
Large crowds were expected in the southern US city for New Year's celebrations and for a highly anticipated college football game.
Louisiana governor Jeff Landry said he was "praying for all the victims and first responders on scene".
He added: "A horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street earlier this morning.
"Please join Sharon and I in praying for all the victims and first responders on scene. I urge all near the scene to avoid the area."
Eyewitness Nicole Mowrer said: "We were pretty, pretty close to where it started.
She added: "Once it was past us, we did hear gunfire, saw police running that direction.
"Once the gunfire stopped, we stayed in the alcove until the gunfire stopped, came out into the street, and came across a lot of — several people who had been hit, [we] wanted to see what we could do to help."
President Joe Biden said that he was being "continually briefed" on updates following the incident.
Addressing the people of New Orleans on Wednesday evening, he said: "We're going to stand with you as you mourn and as you heal in the weeks to come.
"We want to thank our brave responders and law enforcement personnel who stopped the attacker in his tracks before he killed or injured even more people."
He said he had directed his team to make sure "every resource is available" for authorities to complete an investigation quickly.
"New Orleans is a place unlike any other place in the world," he said. "It's a city full of charm and joy.
"So many people around the world love New Orleans because of its history, its culture, and above all, its people.
"So I know while this person committed a terrible assault on the city, the spirit of our New Orleans will never, never, never be defeated.
"It always will shine forth. We've seen that time and time again throughout its history, and I know we'll see it again in the days and weeks ahead."
On Truth Social, Donald Trump said: "When I said that the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country, that statement was constantly refuted by Democrats and the Fake News Media, but it turned out to be true.
"The crime rate in our country is at a level that nobody has ever seen before.
"Our hearts are with 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!"
