Suspect ‘intentionally’ caused carnage, police say
The suspect in the attack in New Orleans that killed 10 people on New Year’s Day was identified as Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42 years old.
Police said at least 35 other people were injured after the suspect deliberately drove a truck into a crowd and opened fire.
Previously, New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said the man was driving a pickup truck along Bourbon Street “very fast… trying to run over as many people as possible” at around 03:15 (09:15 GMT). He crashed the car, then shot and injured two police officers.
The FBI said in a statement that it was “working with our partners to investigate whether this was an act of terrorism.” The agency added that the suspect has died.
Kirkpatrick said the man “attempted to create the carnage and damage he caused”.
The attack took place in New Orleans’ French Quarter – a bustling nightclub popular with locals and tourists.
Whit Davis, from Shreveport, Louisiana, was in a bar with friends when “people started running and ducking under tables as if this were a shooting drill going on.”
“Everyone was completely shocked,” he added.
“I come to New Orleans often and have never seen anything so bad.”
Jim and Nicole Mowrer, who were visiting New Orleans from Iowa, told CBS News, the BBC’s US news partner, that they witnessed the truck speeding through the barricade, after He heard gunshots and collisions.
They tried to help people they thought were injured but realized the victims were dead.
A hotel employee told CBS that he was closing up for the evening when he looked out the window and noticed “a lot of bodies lying on the ground.”
“The truck was speeding away. I immediately ran downstairs to see if anyone could help and unfortunately several people were killed in that event.”
“The scene was horrifying,” he added.
FBI Special Agent Althea Duncan, who is leading the investigation, said an improvised explosive device was also found at the scene and they were confirming whether it was “viable.”
Law enforcement officials later told CBS they were investigating whether the suspect was affiliated with or inspired by a foreign terrorist organization.
The suspect was wearing body armor at the time of the attack and a long gun was recovered from the scene, CBS reported, citing sources familiar with the investigation.
US President Joe Biden told journalists that his reaction was “angry and disappointed”.
The White House said Mr. Biden called the city’s mayor this morning to ask for “full federal support.”
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said in a post on X that he was “praying for all the victims and first responders on the scene.”
“A horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street early this morning,” Landry wrote.
