US President Joe Biden expressed outrage and sorrow on Wednesday over the deadly New Year’s Eve attack in New Orleans that killed at least 15 people. The assailant, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old US Army veteran, drove a Ford F-150 truck into a crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street, causing chaos and panic. According to the FBI, Jabbar had posted videos online hours before the attack, claiming to be inspired by the Islamic State (ISIS) and expressing a desire to kill.
Biden Describes the Attack as “Despicable”
Speaking from Camp David, President Biden described the attack as “despicable” and extended his condolences to the victims and their families. “Our nation grieves with you as you mourn and heal,” Biden said in his statement, stressing that there is “no justification for violence of any kind.”
FBI Investigation and Shocking Findings
The FBI reported that Jabbar’s vehicle was decorated with an ISIS flag and contained possible explosives. Investigators also discovered pipe bombs in coolers, one of which was placed by three men and a woman, according to a Louisiana State Police bulletin. However, the FBI has yet to confirm these details.
The investigation continues, with the FBI working to determine Jabbar’s potential connections to terrorist organisations.
Chaos on Bourbon Street: A Scene of Carnage
The attack sent shockwaves through New Orleans’ famed Bourbon Street, turning what should have been a festive celebration into a horrific scene of bloodied bodies, screaming bystanders, and destruction. Witnesses described the truck barreling through the crowd, flinging people into the air.
Zion Parsons, an 18-year-old from Gulfport, Mississippi, recalled seeing the carnage, saying, “Bodies, bodies all up and down the street, everybody screaming and hollering.”
FBI Finds Explosives and Guns in Attacker’s Vehicle
Authorities reported that multiple improvised explosives were discovered in Jabbar’s vehicle, including pipe bombs wired for remote detonation. Additionally, investigators recovered a handgun and an AR-style rifle, though the specifics of Jabbar’s associates remain unclear.
Links to Other Attacks? Investigation Expands
President Biden addressed the explosion involving a Cybertruck in Las Vegas, which occurred around the same time as the New Orleans attack. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, suggested a possible connection between the two incidents, claiming they could both be linked to terrorism. However, authorities have not confirmed this theory.
Ongoing Investigation and Global Attention
The tragic events in New Orleans and the unfolding investigation have garnered global attention, with the US government vowing to uncover the full details of the attack. As investigations continue, the world awaits further developments in this chilling case.
