Attack by a former US army personnel resulted in the deaths of 15 individuals, evoking imagery reminiscent of a conflict zone
At least 15 individuals have lost their lives, and numerous others have sustained injuries in New Orleans, following an incident where a US army veteran, allegedly motivated by Daesh, drove a pick-up truck into a crowd gathered for New Year celebrations.
Authorities have identified Shamsud-Din Jabbar, aged 42, as the suspect involved in a vehicular incident in the French Quarter on Wednesday. Jabbar, a former deployment to Afghanistan, reportedly displayed a flag associated with the Daesh Takfiri group from his vehicle before driving into a crowd.
The attack transpired at approximately 3:15 a.m. as victims were celebrating the onset of the year 2025, resulting in the deaths of 15 individuals and leaving approximately 30 others injured.
Eyewitnesses reported harrowing scenes of devastation, with bodies and bloodshed visible at the site and victims in distress, some curled up on the ground in the fetal position after a truck had passed. “The only way to describe it is akin to a war zone,” an observer noted.
Authorities have discovered a cache of weapons along with a possible explosive device in a vehicle belonging to an individual identified as Jabbar. Moreover, two additional suspected explosive devices were found in the French Quarter, which were safely defused by FBI officials.
Among the injured were two law enforcement officials who sustained gunshot wounds during a firefight with Jabbar, who was subsequently fatally shot by police officers.
FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Alethea Duncan, announced that authorities suspect Jabbar was not acting independently.
US President Joe Biden announced that investigators are currently exploring potential links between the actions of an individual named Jabbar and a recent fire involving a Tesla truck near a Trump hotel in Las Vegas.
In a recent statement, President-elect Donald Trump inaccurately suggested that Jabbar was not a U.S. citizen. Contrary to this claim, Jabbar is indeed a citizen, hailing originally from Beaumont, Texas.
Jabbar, who possesses a professional background in real estate in Houston, commenced his military career with active service in the United States Army from March 2007 through January 2015. He further contributed to the Army Reserve until July 2020. His military tenure included a deployment to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010, and he attained the rank of staff sergeant before transitioning out of active duty.
In a promotional video released four years ago, he stated that he had dedicated a decade to serving in the United States military, where he specialized in human resources and information technology.
In light of the recent attack, authorities in New Orleans have decided to postpone the Sugar Bowl, a high-profile college football event originally set for the same day. Law enforcement is actively searching for more explosive devices while continuing their investigation for additional evidence in the area. The city is also preparing for the upcoming NFL Super Bowl, scheduled to take place on February 9.
New Orleans has faced significant challenges with its elevated homicide rate in recent years, prompting some media organizations to label the city as the “murder capital of the United States.”
