US driver flying Daesh flag rams into New Orleans crowd, killing 15

NEW ORLEANS — An American Army veteran, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, of Texas, flew a Daesh flag from his truck and drove through makeshift barriers into New Orleans' bustling French Quarter on New Year's Day, causing a devastating attack that killed 15 people. Officials suspect others may have assisted him in the attack.

Jabbar, a former US Army service member who served in Afghanistan, died in a shootout with police after ramming into the crowd. About 30 others were injured, including two police officers who were shot by the suspect. The attack occurred around 3:15 a.m. (0915 GMT) near the iconic Canal and Bourbon Streets, popular for its bars and live music, where New Year's celebrations were in full swing.

Authorities are investigating potential accomplices, with police discovering weapons and a potential explosive device in the vehicle. Two more explosives were safely defused in the French Quarter. As a result of the ongoing threat, the Sugar Bowl, a New Year’s Day college football tradition, was postponed, with the game between Notre Dame and Georgia rescheduled for Thursday afternoon.

FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alethea Duncan confirmed that Jabbar was not believed to be acting alone. "We are aggressively following up on all leads, including those involving his associates," she said, noting that a wide range of suspects were being investigated.

The victims included a mother who had recently moved into a new apartment after a work promotion, a New York financial worker and accomplished student athlete, and an 18-year-old aspiring nurse from Mississippi.

President Joe Biden condemned the "despicable" attack, mentioning that authorities were investigating a potential link to a Tesla truck fire outside a Trump hotel in Las Vegas, though no connection has been confirmed.

Sources close to the investigation revealed that Jabbar had recorded videos expressing his desire to join Daesh and thoughts about harming his family after a divorce. Public records showed he had worked in real estate in Houston and served in the military as an HR and IT specialist. Jabbar served in the Army from 2007 to 2015, followed by time in the Army Reserve until 2020. He was deployed to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010 and held the rank of staff sergeant.

Mike and Kimberly Strickland of Mobile, Alabama, were near the attack's site as they returned to their hotel after attending a concert. Kimberly recalled the chaos: "You heard this squeal and the rev of the engine, then the loud impact, screams, and the sound of metal crunching and bodies."

At the time of the attack, about 400 officers were stationed in the French Quarter, some of whom had set up barriers to prevent vehicles from entering the pedestrian zones. New Orleans was in the process of upgrading steel bollards around Bourbon Street, scheduled for completion before the Super Bowl. As a temporary measure, police vehicles and officers acted as barriers.