New Orleans New Year’s Attack: ISIS-Inspired Terror Leaves 15 Dead
A horrific act of violence marred the start of 2025 in New Orleans,leaving 15 dead and numerous others injured. In the early hours of New Year’s Day, a white Ford F-150 electric pickup truck plowed into a crowd of revelers celebrating in the heart of the French Quarter, a historic district known for its vibrant nightlife.
The suspect, identified by the FBI as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old US citizen and Army veteran from Texas, was killed in a shootout with police. Two officers sustained injuries, but are reported to be in stable condition. “This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could,” New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick stated to reporters. She described Jabbar’s actions as “terrorist” in nature.
According to authorities,an ISIS flag was discovered inside the vehicle. “The FBI is working to determine the subject’s potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations,” the agency said in an official statement. FBI agent Alethea Duncan cautioned that the examination is ongoing and that “we do not believe that Jabbar was solely responsible.”
“We’re hunting some bad people down,”
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry declared.
The attack, wich occurred around 3:15 a.m. local time, was intentional and swift. Kirkpatrick described Jabbar as driving at “very high speed” in a “very intentional” manner, stating, “he was hellbent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.”
Two homemade explosive devices were also found and safely neutralized by authorities. Jabbar’s military record reveals service as a human resource specialist and IT specialist from 2007 to 2020,including a deployment to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010. He attained the rank of staff sergeant.
President Joe Biden addressed the nation, stating, “The FBI also reported to me that mere hours before the attack he posted videos on social media indicating that he was inspired by ISIS.” He emphasized that the government “will not tolerate any attack on any of our nation’s communities.”
In contrast, President-elect Donald Trump, in a statement released before the suspect’s identity was fully confirmed, prematurely linked the attack to illegal immigration, a claim unsupported by evidence.He also made unsubstantiated claims about the nation’s crime rate, contradicting FBI data showing a notable decrease in violent crime nationwide.
The attack has sent shockwaves through the nation, highlighting the ongoing threat of domestic terrorism and the need for continued vigilance. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine if Jabbar acted alone or as part of a larger network.
New Orleans Devastated: Ten dead in Suspected Terrorist Attack
New Orleans, a city renowned for its vibrant culture and upcoming Super Bowl LIX, is reeling from a horrific attack that claimed the lives of ten people and left many more injured. The incident,which occurred just hours before the scheduled Sugar Bowl collage football game,has sent shockwaves across the nation and the world.
Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture. Zion Parsons described the scene as one of pure terror: “People were terrified, running, screaming,” he recounted. Another witness, Jimmy Cothran, added to the grim description, stating to ABC News that the chaos was “insanity”. He described the immediate aftermath: “We instantly counted, I’d say, 10 bodies – six clearly graphically deceased, and the others yelling with no one around,” he said.
The attack occurred just hours before the highly anticipated Sugar Bowl, featuring the University of Georgia and Notre Dame, was set to begin. The game was subsequently postponed for 24 hours.
Despite the city’s heightened security measures in anticipation of the Super Bowl and the Sugar Bowl, with the New orleans Police Department reporting “100 percent staffing, with an additional 300 officers assisting from partner law enforcement agencies,” including mounted units and unmarked vehicles, the attack still occurred.
President Biden addressed the nation, stating that authorities are investigating ”any possible connection” between the New Orleans incident and the recent explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside a Las Vegas hotel. “Law enforcement are investigating the explosion of the Tesla vehicle including whether there’s any possible connection with the attack in New Orleans,” President Biden told reporters, adding, “Thus far, there’s nothing to report on that score.”
International Condemnation
the tragedy has drawn widespread international condemnation. Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland, Micheál Martin, expressed his shock and horror on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “I am shocked and horrified by the suspected terror attack that left ten dead and many more injured in New Orleans. Our thoughts and condolences go to all the victims and their families. Ireland stands in solidarity with the people of New Orleans and the US at this tragic time.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the attack as “shockingly violent,” while German Chancellor olaf Scholz called it “senseless hatred.” French President Emmanuel Macron’s statement highlighted the city’s significance to France: “New Orleans, so dear to the hearts of the French, has been struck by terrorism.” Similar sentiments of grief and solidarity were expressed by NATO Secretary General Mark rutte and Mexican President Claudia sheinbaum.
The investigation into this devastating attack is ongoing, and the nation awaits further updates as authorities work to understand the motives and bring those responsible to justice. The impact on the upcoming Super Bowl and the city’s recovery remain significant concerns.
