Thu Jan 02 01:14:07 UTC 2025: **New Orleans New Year’s Attack: 15 Dead in ISIS-Inspired Terrorist Act**
NEW ORLEANS, LA – A U.S. Army veteran, identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, drove a pickup truck bearing the Islamic State group’s flag into a crowd celebrating New Year’s Eve in New Orleans, killing 15 and injuring dozens more. The attack, which occurred early Wednesday morning, is being investigated as a terrorist act by the FBI.
Jabbar, a Texas resident, bypassed security measures and plowed through revelers on Bourbon Street before being shot dead by police. Authorities recovered multiple improvised explosive devices (IEDs), firearms, and what appeared to be an IED from his vehicle and other locations in the French Quarter. The FBI confirmed finding videos Jabbar posted online hours before the attack, expressing allegiance to ISIS and a desire to kill.
President Biden called the attack “despicable” and “heinous,” expressing the nation’s grief. The attack caused widespread chaos, with witnesses describing a scene of carnage and panicked escape. A nearby college football playoff game was postponed. Two police officers were injured during the ensuing shootout with Jabbar.
The FBI stated they do not believe Jabbar acted alone and are investigating potential accomplices. Preliminary information suggests multiple individuals may have been involved in placing some of the IEDs. This information is still under investigation.
The incident has raised concerns about national security, particularly given the FBI’s recent warnings of an elevated international terrorism threat. The agency is also investigating potential links between this attack and separate explosions in Honolulu and Las Vegas. The attack is the deadliest ISIS-inspired assault on U.S. soil in years.
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