The New Year’s car-ramming and shooting left 15 dead and dozens injured as authorities search for possible accomplices
US federal authorities are investigating the attack in New Orleans, Louisiana, as an “ act of terrorism,”
How the attack unfolded
Chaos erupted in New Orleans’ iconic French Quarter at around 3:15 am on January 1, 2025, when revelers celebrating New Year’s Day on Bourbon Street were struck by a white Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck that plowed through the densely packed crowd.
Eyewitnesses described the truck barreling down the street at high speed, swerving into pedestrians before crashing into a construction crane.
After the crash, the driver exited the vehicle and opened fire on responding police officers with an assault rifle. The shootout left two officers wounded before law enforcement fatally shot the suspect, later identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar.
Weapons and suspected explosive devices were discovered inside the vehicle and at locations near the crash site, raising concerns about premeditation and potential accomplices.
Victims and casualties
The attack resulted in 15 deaths, including the suspect. Twelve victims died at the scene, while three others succumbed to their injuries at local hospitals. Among the deceased were a mix of locals and tourists gathered for New Year’s celebrations.
Another 35 individuals were injured, including two police officers who sustained gunshot wounds during the exchange of fire with Jabbar. Many victims remain hospitalized, with several in critical condition.
‘ISIS-Inspired’ US Army veteran
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the suspect in the attack, was a US Army veteran who served from 2007 to 2015 on active duty and continued in the Army Reserve until 2020. He was deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010 and held the rank of staff sergeant at the time of his discharge.
An Islamic State (ISIS) flag was found in Jabbar’s vehicle, prompting federal investigators to classify the incident as a potential terrorist attack. Officials revealed that Jabbar converted to Islam within the last year and may have been radicalized online.
Jabbar, a native of Beaumont, Texas, had no significant criminal record but reportedly exhibited erratic behavior in recent months.
Search for suspected accomplices
Authorities believe Jabbar may not have acted alone. The FBI has found evidence suggesting coordination, including pipe bombs reportedly linked to a wireless detonator found in Jabbar’s truck.
Possible links to Cybertruck blast
On the same day, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, killing one and injuring seven. Both vehicles involved in these incidents were rented through the same app, raising suspicions of a coordinated attack.
While no definitive link has been established between the New Orleans attack and the Las Vegas explosion, federal investigators are examining a “possible connection,” according to Biden, who cautioned the public against drawing premature conclusions.
