More than a dozen killed in New Orleans truck-ramming attack

New Orleans Coroner Dr. Dwight McKenna says the death toll has now risen to 15. He added that the identity of all those deceased will be released in the days to come after completing all the autopsies.

Early on Wednesday, a driver, who’s been identified by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, in a white Ford pickup truck drove through a crowd in New Orleans.

The US’ lead investigative agency says Jabbar exited the vehicle after hitting the crowd, and opened fired upon local law enforcement. After a short-lived gunfight, the attacker was shot dead and pronounced deceased.

Jabbar also injured two police officers who sustained gunshot wounds, but Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick says they’re in stable condition.

“He was hell bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did,” said Kirkpatrick, adding that his behaviour was clearly intentional.

The FBI says they’re investigating the attack as an “act of terrorism”, and are working with partners on the local, state and federal level to “run down all leads and identify any possible associates of the subject”.

US President Joe Biden says the attack appears to have been inspired by the ISIS terror group.

“Mere hours before the attack, he posted videos on social media indicating that it is inspired by ISIS, expressing a desire to kill, desire to kill. The ISIS flag was found in his vehicle, which he rented to conduct this attack” said Biden in a press briefing regarding the attack.

The outgoing US president added that Jabbar, who was a US citizen born in Texas, served for many years in the US Army in active duty and until a few years ago in the Army Reserve.

Biden added that the situation is very fluid and indicated that investigations were still at a preliminary stage. He urged members of the public and press to not jump to conclusions and await updates from official US agencies or local authorities.

Investigators were combing the French Quarter in the area for potential explosive devices, after weapons and potential explosives were located in Jabbar’s vehicle.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill later confirmed to the worried residents of New Orleans that the areas surrounding the vicinity of the attack were deemed safe.

“They’ve (local and federal law enforcement officers) done an enormous sweep of this whole area. They’ve done a grid search. So, I think they are very confident that this area is safe,” said Murrill.

She also added that additional safety precaution have been put in place to ensure the public’s safety, noting that increased police presence and patrol will remain until at least the end of Mardi Gras on 4 March.

The attack occurred in the early hours of Wednesday morning along Bourbon Street in New Orleans — a world famous destination for New Year’s Eve parties.

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The area was particularly busy as crowds gathered to watch the Sugar Bowl college football playoff game at the nearby Superdome later in the day.

Additional sources • AP