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Authorities say the motive force of a pickup truck sped by means of a crowd of pedestrians gathered in New Orleans’ bustling French Quarter district early on New 12 months’s Day, killing no less than 15 individuals and injuring about 30 different revelers. The suspect was killed in a shootout with police.

The FBI is investigating the assault as an act of terrorism and stated it doesn’t imagine the motive force acted alone.

Wednesday’s assault unfolded on Bourbon Road, recognized worldwide as one of many largest locations for New 12 months’s Eve events. Giant crowds additionally gathered within the metropolis forward of the School Soccer Playoff quarterfinal on the Sugar Bowl that had been scheduled for later Wednesday on the close by Superdome. The sport was postponed till Thursday afternoon following the assault.

Right here’s what we all know concerning the assault:

What occurred?

Police stated the motive force steered round a police blockade and raced by means of a crowd alongside Bourbon Road round 3:15 a.m. Wednesday as revelers gathered to have a good time the New 12 months. At the least 15 individuals had been killed and about 30 injured. Two law enforcement officials wounded within the shootout with the suspect had been in secure situation.

Authorities additionally discovered potential explosive units within the French Quarter, the FBI stated. Surveillance footage confirmed three males and a girl inserting one among a number of improvised explosive units, in line with a Louisiana State Police intelligence bulletin obtained by The Related Press.

Who’s the motive force and what was his motive?

The FBI stated the motive force was 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, a U.S. citizen and Military veteran from Texas.

A flag representing the Islamic State group was discovered on the car’s trailer hitch, the FBI stated. The bureau is making an attempt to find out if Jabbar was related to any terrorist organizations.

Alethea Duncan, an assistant particular agent answerable for the FBI’s New Orleans discipline workplace, stated throughout a information convention that the company doesn’t imagine Jabbar acted alone.

Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick stated the motive force was “hell-bent on creating the carnage and the harm that he did” and he tried “to run over as many individuals as he may.”

Jabbar enlisted within the Military in March 2007, working in each human sources and data know-how. He deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010, then transferred into the U.S. Military Reserve in 2015, the service stated in a press release. Jabbar served till July 2020, leaving the navy with the rank of employees sergeant.

What have authorities discovered of their investigation?

Weapons and pipe bombs had been discovered within the suspect’s car, in line with the State Police bulletin. The units had been hid inside coolers and wired for distant detonation with a distant management that additionally was discovered within the car, the bulletin stated.

Who was within the crowd?

Authorities stated Bourbon Road was full of revelers toasting the beginning of 2025 when the assault occurred. Crowds in New Orleans additionally ballooned in anticipation of the Sugar Bowl school soccer playoff sport between No. 2 Georgia and No. 3 Notre Dame. That sport was postponed till Thursday evening.

What protections are there for pedestrians on Bourbon Road?

Metropolis paperwork present New Orleans has been within the midst of a significant undertaking to take away and change post-like boundaries known as bollards designed to stop car assaults alongside Bourbon Road. That undertaking started in November and entails changing previous bollards with new detachable stainless-steel bollards.

Have there been related lethal assaults involving autos?

Wednesday’s assault in New Orleans is the most recent instance of a car getting used as a weapon to hold out mass violence. The development has alarmed legislation enforcement officers as a result of such assaults could be tough to guard towards. Final month, a 50-year-old Saudi physician plowed right into a Christmas market teeming with vacation consumers within the German metropolis of Magdeburg, killing 4 girls and a 9-year-old boy.

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Related Press reporter Tara Copp contributed from Washington.

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This story has been corrected to mirror that the Sugar Bowl was moved to Thursday afternoon as a substitute of Thursday evening.