Thu Jan 02 15:43:40 UTC 2025: ## New Orleans New Year’s Attack: 15 Dead in ISIS-Inspired Terrorist Rampage

**New Orleans, LA (January 2, 2025)** – 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 people and injuring dozens more. The attack, which the FBI is investigating as a terrorist act, unfolded as Jabbar steered his vehicle around a police blockade on Bourbon Street, plowing into revelers before being fatally shot by police.

The FBI confirmed finding guns, an apparent improvised explosive device (IED) in the truck, and additional devices in the French Quarter. Videos posted by Jabbar on social media hours before the attack revealed his ISIS inspiration and intent to kill. The attack temporarily halted a college football playoff game at the nearby Superdome.

Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick of the New Orleans Police Department described the attack as “evil,” noting that Jabbar bypassed security measures designed to prevent vehicle attacks. The FBI’s Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Alethea Duncan, stated that they do not believe Jabbar acted alone, citing the discovery of multiple IEDs, including pipe bombs. A Louisiana State Police intelligence bulletin, though not yet fully confirmed by federal officials, suggests potential accomplices.

Jabbar, a Texas resident who served in the U.S. Army, including a deployment to Afghanistan, was killed by police after exiting his truck and firing upon officers. Three officers were wounded but are in stable condition. The attack also involved explosions in Honolulu and outside a Las Vegas hotel, with the FBI investigating possible connections.

President Joe Biden described the attack as a “despicable” and “heinous act,” expressing grief for the victims and the city of New Orleans. The incident is the latest in a series of vehicle-borne attacks and the deadliest ISIS-inspired assault on U.S. soil in recent years. The FBI has cited an elevated international terrorism threat in light of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

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