New Orleans’ vibrant New Year celebrations turned into chaos when a man drove a pickup truck into a crowd near the iconic Bourbon Street early Wednesday, killing 15 people and injuring dozens. Authorities are now probing potential links between the attacker and the Islamic State terrorist group.
The suspect, identified as Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, a 42-year-old Army veteran from Texas, was killed in a shootout with police shortly after crashing the rented truck. The attack, which occurred just after 3 a.m., has left the city reeling and raised serious concerns about public safety in the bustling French Quarter.
Inside the vehicle, investigators found an ISIS flag, firearms, and a possible explosive device, further fueling suspicions of a coordinated terrorist act. Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick revealed that two officers sustained injuries during the exchange of gunfire but are expected to recover.
“This was a premeditated act of terror that exploited a temporary gap in security,” Kirkpatrick said, referencing adjustments made due to ongoing repairs in the area ahead of next month’s Super Bowl.
The tragic incident, one of the deadliest in New Orleans’ recent history, also led to the postponement of the Sugar Bowl, initially scheduled for Wednesday at the Superdome. The game has been rescheduled for Thursday as officials work to restore a sense of safety and normalcy.
Federal investigators are urgently piecing together Jabbar’s motives and any ties to international terrorist networks. Alethea Duncan, an assistant special agent with the FBI, stated, “This investigation is moving swiftly, and we’re pursuing every lead. We urge anyone with information to come forward.”
