Pickup truck plows into crowd in downtown New Orleans… at least 15 dead,
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| ▲ A terrorist attack occurred in the heart of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA on January 1, 2025, when a pickup truck rammed into a crowd. The photo shows debris remaining by the roadside. |
| ⓒ Yonhap News = Jeff Burke/USA Today/Reuters |
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, ‘In the early hours of New Year’s Day, a vehicle attack in downtown New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, resulted in dozens of casualties.’,
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, ‘According to foreign media, at around 3:15 a.m. local time on January 1, a pickup truck suddenly plowed into a crowd on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, where people had gathered to celebrate the New Year, killing at least 15 and injuring over 30 so far.’,
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, ‘The suspect died after a shootout with police. During the exchange, two officers were injured by the suspect’s gunfire, but their injuries are not life-threatening.’,
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, ‘New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick stated, “The suspect intentionally tried to hit as many people as possible,” adding, “The vehicle broke through a barricade and then opened fire on officers on the scene.”‘,
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, Suspect identified as retired US military… Biden says “inspired by IS”,
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, ‘Authorities recovered a handgun and a semi-automatic rifle, believed to have been used by the suspect, as well as several improvised explosive devices and an ISIS (Islamic State) flag from the scene.’,
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, ‘The FBI, which is investigating the case, identified the suspect as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar from Texas, who was a US Army veteran and converted to Islam after serving about ten years.’,
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, ‘They mentioned, “We are investigating whether the suspect was linked to any terrorist organizations or had any accomplices,” adding, “We do not believe the suspect acted alone.”‘,
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, ‘Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas stated, “We are working closely with law enforcement agencies in response to this incident,” adding that “the FBI has categorized this as a terrorist act and is investigating.”‘,
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, ‘It has been reported that Jabbar made several videos before the attack explaining why he joined IS.’,
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, ‘President Joe Biden said, “The suspect posted a video on social media a few hours before the incident, stating that he was inspired by IS,” adding that “the suspect also expressed his intent to kill in the video.”‘,
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, ‘He also condemned the attack, calling it a “despicable and malignant act,” warning that “we will not tolerate any attacks against our nation or communities.” Furthermore, he emphasized that “law enforcement and intelligence agencies are investigating all connections and related groups and accomplices” and that “the investigation is ongoing and no rushed conclusions should be drawn.”‘,
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, IS, retreating but leveraging Middle East chaos to increase terror threats,
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| ▲ AP news covering the vehicle attack incident in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA |
| ⓒ AP |
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, ‘The Sunni extremist armed group IS declared the establishment of a state in 2014, once controlling a third of Iraq and Syria’s territory, and gained infamy through brutal terrorism and killings.’,
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, ‘Although IS was defeated in March 2019 by Syrian Kurdish forces and Iraqi troops supported by the West, it has continued to attack civilians and government forces using guerilla tactics.’,
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, ‘AP News reported, “IS instigated terror threats and rallied combat forces, exploiting the turmoil caused by the Israel-Hamas war that began in October 2023,” adding that “if confirmed that this attack was influenced by IS, it would mark the deadliest attack on American soil in years.”‘,
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, ‘Bruce Hoffman, a senior counterterrorism fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), told the Washington Post, “Despite efforts over the past decade by Western countries to dismantle IS, it remains a worrisome signal that IS can still radicalize followers in the US.”‘,
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, ‘The incident is also expected to further strengthen the anti-immigration stance of President-elect Donald Trump, who is set to take office next month.’,
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, ‘Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency, and the college football semifinal game between the University of Georgia and the University of Notre Dame, scheduled at the 70,000-seat Superdome, has been postponed by two days.’,
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