New Orleans: 10 dead after driver plows into Bourbon Street crowd – National & International News – WED 1Jan2025

New Orleans: 10 dead after driver plows into Bourbon Street crowd. Suspect identified as Texas veteran, 42. ISIS flag found; investigators seek possible accomplices.

New Orleans: 10 dead after driver plows into Bourbon Street crowd 

At least 10 people are dead and about 35 injured after a truck drove into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans’ famous French Quarter. The driver then began firing an assault rifle into the crowd, also hitting two New Orleans police officers. Police on the scene returned fire, killing the attacker, who was wearing full body armor.

The incident took place around 3:15 a.m. local time while the street was still crowded with revelers ringing in the new year. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says the driver was “trying to run over as many people as he could” before crashing his vehicle and firing into the crowd. Investigators also found improvised explosive devices (IEDs) within the truck. Other suspected devices were found elsewhere in the French Quarter. The Airbnb where Jabbar was staying is also being searched.

The attacker has been identified as Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42, of Houston, TX. Jabbar was a US citizen and US Army veteran, born in Texas. It appears that he had an ISIS flag flying from his truck. The FBI is investigating the attack as a terrorist act. No other suspects have yet been identified but investigators believe Jabbar did not act alone. Surveillance footage “captured three men and a woman placing one of multiple improvised explosive devices”.

New Orleans was also set to host the annual Sugar Bowl at 7:45 p.m. tonight, with the University of Georgia to play against Notre Dame. Following the attack, the game was initially expected to go ahead as planned, but officials have now postponed it.

Local witnesses questioned why the hydraulic barrier system on Bourbon Street (used to control traffic on Mardi Gras) was not in place during the New Years celebration. These barriers could have prevented Jabbar’s truck from entering the street and driving at such a high speed. Unfortunately, authorities say the barrier system was undergoing repairs in anticipation of New Orleans hosting the Super Bowl in February. Police vehicles were set up as temporary barricades, but Jabbar was able to drive around them.

Click here for live updates as the story develops (opens in new tab).