New Orleans attack latest: FBI says suspect acted alone; other things to know
NEW ORLEANS - Many questions remained unanswered more than 24 hours after a man drove a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year’s revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing 14 people and injuring dozens of others.
The FBI is now confident that the attack was a terrorist act. They have identified the driver as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, a self-proclaimed ISIS supporter.
Officials have not yet released the names of those killed, but their families and friends have begun sharing their stories. About 35 people were hurt.
FILE - Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies work the scene on Bourbon Street after at least 15 people were killed when a pickup truck plowed into a crowd in the early morning hours of New Years Day on Jan. 1, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisian
Here is the latest information:
FBI probes New Orleans truck attack
What we know: Around 3:15 a.m. local time, the driver of a rented pickup truck drove onto a sidewalk, steering around a police car that was positioned to block vehicular traffic, and slammed into revelers celebrating the new year on Bourbon Street.
The driver was killed by police after he exited the truck and opened fire on responding officers, authorities said. Three officers returned fire, and two were shot and were in stable condition.
Authorities also found two potential explosive devices hidden in coolers, the FBI said. Initially agents were looking for accomplices who may have placed them around the French Quarter but they now say those people were just bystanders and Jabbar acted alone.
What we don’t know: Officials have revised the death toll down to 14 from 15 but have not yet identified the victims killed in the attack.
New Orleans Coroner Dr. Dwight McKenna said in a statement late Wednesday that they will release the names of the dead once autopsies are complete, and they’ve talked with the next of kin.
Members of the FBI and New Orleans Police work the scene on Bourbon Street after at least 10 people were killed when a person allegedly drove into a crowd in the early morning hours of New Year's Day on January 1, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Pho
What’s next: The FBI is seeking more information. They want to talk to anyone who knew Jabbar and any witnesses who may have seen the improvised explosive devices he left in the French Quarter.
"Whether you know Jabar, personally worked with him, served in the military, or saw him in New Orleans or Texas, we need to talk to you," FBI assistant director Christopher Raia said Thursday. "You may not think you have relevant information, but what you know could tie in to one of our investigators' leads."
Timeline:
- Jabbar picked up the rented truck in Houston on December 30
- Drove to New Orleans on December 31
- Posted 5 videos discussing support for ISIS between 1:29 a.m. and 3:02 a.m. on December 31
- Rammed the truck into the crowd around 3:15 a.m., then died in a shootout with police
What they're saying: "Let me be very clear about this point: This was an act of terrorism. It was premeditated and an evil act," Raia stated.
New Orleans attack suspect
What we know: The FBI said Jabbar was a U.S. citizen and Army veteran from Texas. A flag representing the Islamic State group was found on the vehicle’s trailer hitch, according to the agency.
The suspect had posted five videos on social media hours before the attack saying he was inspired by the Islamic State group and expressing a desire to kill, President Joe Biden said, calling the attack a "despicable" and "heinous act."
Jabbar joined the Army in 2007, serving on active duty in human resources and information technology and deploying to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010, the service said. He transferred to the Army Reserve in 2015 and left in 2020 with the rank of staff sergeant.
What we don’t know: The FBI is trying to determine the motive and Jabbar's specific choice of Bourbon Street for the attack. They also want to know if Jabbar was truly associated with ISIS, along with his "path to radicalization."
Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion
What we know: On the same day as the attack in New Orleans, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, loaded with fireworks and other devices, according to police.
The driver, identified by police as Matthew Livelsberger, was killed in the blast, and seven people nearby were injured.
Police are investigating the explosion as possible terrorism with help from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has been posting updates on social media.
What we don’t know: It was not clear if the explosion was connected to the apparent terror attack along Bourbon Street in New Orleans, but officials now say they don't believe that's the case.
While the back of the vehicle was loaded with explosives, it was also not yet clear how it was done, or why.
How to help
GoFundMe has launched a website for those who wish to donate to the victims of the attack and their families.
A landing page was created to help donors find verified fundraisers, here.
Sugar Bowl to kick off in New Orleans
What we know: The College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame was postponed by a day because of the truck attack, which unfolded about a mile away.
"Public safety is paramount," Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley said at a media briefing alongside federal, state and local officials, including Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. "All parties all agree that it’s in the best interest of everybody and public safety that we postpone the game."
Notre Dame ended up winning in a 23-10 victory over Georgia and will head to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.
The Source: Information in this story came from the FBI, the New Orleans Police Department, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and reporting by the Associated Press. It was reported from Cincinnati, and the Associated Press contributed.