Washington: US president Joe Biden revealed chilling details about New Year’s Day attack on a vehicle in New Orleans that claimed 14 lives. Addressing the nation, Biden said that the attacker, Shamsuddin Jabbar, had planted two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in ice coolers at locations in the French Quarter. Jabbar, who rammed a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, also equipped the vehicle with a remote detonator to trigger the explosives.
The attack, which left 30 others injured, has been described by the FBI as a lone-wolf operation inspired by ISIS. Authorities recovered the IEDs and found an ISIS flag in Jabbar’s truck. Biden assured Americans that the government is actively pursuing terrorist organizations like ISIS, vowing they would find no safe haven in the United States.
Details of the attack
The attack took place during New Year’s celebrations, a time when Bourbon Street was crowded with revelers. After ramming the truck into the crowd, Jabbar was killed in an immediate police response.
Investigations revealed that an ISIS flag was found in the truck, and Jabbar had posted several pro-ISIS videos on social media shortly before the attack.
Christopher Raya, the FBI’s deputy assistant director for counter-terrorism, confirmed that the attack was a terrorist act. He said that while another incident occurred the same day in Las Vegas involving an explosion at Trump’s hotel bar, there was no connection between the two incidents.
Investigative findings
The FBI uncovered that Jabbar had a history of loyalty to ISIS and had served in the US Army. Despite initial suspicions that multiple individuals might have been involved, it was determined that Jabbar acted alone. His actions were entirely inspired by ISIS propaganda.
In Las Vegas, an explosion occurred in the Tesla Cybertruck bar at Trump’s hotel. The attacker in that incident, a former Green Beret, died by suicide before the explosion. Authorities have ruled out any links between the Las Vegas incident and the New Orleans attack.
President Biden has assured the public that the U.S. will continue to pursue ISIS and other terrorist organizations relentlessly. “We will constantly pursue ISIS and other terrorist organizations to where they are, and they will not find any safe haven here,” he said.
