WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES – The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported that the man who drove his vehicle into a crowd in New Orleans, killing at least 15 people, was an Afghanistan war veteran.
According to CNN, police identified the suspect as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old veteran from Texas. Records indicate he was deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010.
Jabar was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police following the attack.
The FBI revealed that a flag associated with ISIS was discovered in his vehicle and confirmed that the incident is being treated as a “terrorist attack.”
The assault occurred early yesterday morning when Jabar drove his truck into a crowd celebrating the New Year on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. The attack left 15 people dead and injured dozens more.
U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the act as “despicable” and assured the public that all necessary resources have been allocated to counterterrorism authorities to guarantee their safety.
In response to the tragedy, the New Orleans Police Department has announced a significant increase in law enforcement presence. This measure coincides with the city hosting the Sugar Bowl today, a day after the playoff game was postponed due to the Bourbon Street attack.
