A terrorist attack is suspected after 10 people were killed and scores injured when a man intentionally slammed his truck into a crowd in New Orleans on Wednesday.
The suspect has been identified as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, according to CBS News. The FBI confirmed earlier today the incident is being treated as an “act of terrorism” and the perpetrator was killed after the attack.
The attack occurred around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday along Bourbon Street, known worldwide as one of the largest destinations for New Year’s Eve parties, and with crowds in the city ballooning in anticipation for the Sugar Bowl college football playoff game at the nearby Superdome later in the day.
New Orleans suspected terrorist attack aimed at creating carnage
“He was hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did,” said Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick.
“This man was trying to run over as many people as he could,” said Kirkpatrick, adding that two police officers were hit by gunfire but were in a stable condition.
A long gun was recovered from the scene, law enforcement sources told CBS News. The long gun had a “suppressive device” on it that acted as a silencer, according to sources on the scene. Two sources familiar with the investigation told CBS News the suspect was wearing body armor. Potential explosive devices recovered at or near the scene are also being analyzed, the sources said.
The truck appeared to be flying a large black flag from its rear bumper, according to a CBS News review of images of the vehicle. Law enforcement sources told CBS News that investigators are probing whether or not the flag is an ISIS flag or if it is tied to another foreign terror organization. It remains unclear if the suspect was acting alone or with others.
A person familiar with the investigation told CBS News that at this point, neither ISIS nor any other foreign terror organization has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Biden, Trump respond to the attack
President Joe Biden said in a statement he has directed his administration to “ensure every resource is available as federal, state, and local law enforcement work assiduously to get to the bottom of what happened as quickly as possible and to ensure that there is no remaining threat of any kind.”
“My heart goes out to the victims and their families who were simply trying to celebrate the holiday,” Biden said. “There is no justification for violence of any kind, and we will not tolerate any attack on any of our nation’s communities.”
President-elect Donald Trump also acknowledged the attack in a post on TruthSocial. “Our hearts are with all of the innocent victims and their loved ones, including the brave officers of the New Orleans Police Department,” Trump said.
This is a developing story
