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The suspect responsible for the deadly truck ramming attack on New Year’s Day in New Orleans has been identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a US citizen.
Authorities confirmed that Jabbar was carrying an ISIS flag in his vehicle, leading the FBI to investigate his potential affiliations with terrorist organisations.
The Eastern Updates had reported that the attack, which occurred early Wednesday morning, killed at least 10 people and injured 30 others.
Jabbar drove a truck into a crowd of New Year’s revellers in the French Quarter, a popular tourist area. During the chaos, police engaged the suspect in a gunfight, resulting in his death.
Authorities also discovered potential homemade bombs in the vehicle and scattered throughout the French Quarter.
FBI Special Agent Alethea Duncan confirmed that Jabbar was believed to be a US Army veteran, stating that he was likely honourably discharged.
Investigators are working to confirm his military background and determine any other connections.
Additionally, authorities indicated that Jabbar may not have acted alone.
“We do not believe that Jabbar was solely responsible,” Duncan said at a press conference.
After mowing down numerous people over a three-block stretch on the famed thoroughfare while firing shots into the crowd, the suspect — identified by sources as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42 — allegedly got out of the truck wielding an assault rifle and opened fire on police officers, law enforcement officials briefed on the incident told ABC News. Officers returned fire, killing Jabbar, a U.S.-born citizen from Texas, sources said. At least two police officers were injured, one by gunfire and the other was hurt when officer was pinned by the truck, authorities said.
Althea Duncan, assistant special agent in charge of FBI New Orleans field office, said investigators do not believe Jabbar acted alone.
New Orleans police have reviewed surveillance video that appears to show several people planting potential explosive devices in advance of the vehicle attack, which led them to believe he was not “solely responsible,” sources said. Investigators are urgently working to identify the individuals who were seen on camera and take them into custody.
Duncan said Jabbar was an Army veteran. In addition to the assault rifle, Jabbar was allegedly armed with a handgun, sources told ABC News.
