New Orleans attack latest: Biden, first lady honor victims during prayer service
NEW ORLEANS - President Joe Biden told mourners in New Orleans on Monday that they are not alone as he paid tribute to victims of the deadly New Year’s attack.
Biden made the remarks at St. Louis Cathedral in the city's historic French Quarter, not far from the area where an Army veteran drove a truck into revelers last week, killing 14 and injuring 30 more.
Biden praised "so many that ran toward the chaos, trying to help save others," including first responders. He noted the city's enduring strength and resilience amid tragedy, invoking past devastation like Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
"The city’s people get back up," Biden said. "That’s the spirit of America as well."
Biden met privately with grieving families, survivors and first responders before the prayer service. He also stopped at a makeshift memorial where the attack had begun to unfold. It is being investigated as an act of terrorism inspired by the Islamic State group.
"We know what it’s like to lose a piece of our soul. The anger. The emptiness," he said.
He told the grieving families that they will eventually reach a day when the memory of their loved ones will make them smile before it makes them cry.
"It will take time, but I promise you, it will come. I promise you," he said.
Before he met privately with the victims’ families, Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden made their first stop in the city at a memorial that sprung up on Bourbon Street at the spot where the attack started.
Flowers and messages were left at the bases of the crosses erected on the sidewalk. After Jill Biden placed white flowers at the memorial, she and the president stood in silence and bowed their heads.
Here’s the latest in the investigation:
What happened in New Orleans attack?
A terrorist attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day killed 14 people and injured more than 30 others.
The attack involved a man identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar plowing a truck down Bourbon Street into a crowd.
Jabbar, an American citizen from Texas, was later killed during an exchange of gunfire with police.
The investigation is continuing into Jabbar’s motives and how he carried out the attack. Jabbar, who is a former U.S. Army soldier, proclaimed his support for the Islamic State militant group in online videos posted hours before he struck.
READ MORE: Who is Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar? Suspect in deadly New Orleans truck attack
Carnival season begins in New Orleans
Mourners hold a vigil on Bourbon Street for the victims of the January 1 terrorist attack in New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 4, 2025. (Photo by EMILY KASK/AFP via Getty Images)
New Orleans is enhancing security in the French Quarter ahead of Carnival season, which starts Monday, and the Super Bowl on Feb. 9.
Police have used multiple vehicles and barricades to block traffic at Bourbon and Canal streets since the attack. Other law enforcement agencies helped city officers provide extra security.
RELATED: Suspect in New Orleans attack visited city twice before
In a previous effort to protect the French Quarter, the city installed steel columns known as bollards to restrict vehicle access to Bourbon Street. The posts retracted to allow deliveries to bars and restaurants. They stopped working reliably after being gummed up by Mardi Gras beads, beer and other detritus.
When New Year’s Eve arrived, the bollards were gone. They will be replaced ahead of the Super Bowl, officials said.
The Source
Information in this article was taken from The White House and Biden’s comments during the signing ceremony of H.R. 82 on Jan. 5, 2025. Information from The Associated Press was also used. This story was reported from Detroit. Heather Miller contributed.