A truck that plowed through New Year’s celebrations in New Orleans which killed at least 15 and injured dozens is now being labeled a “terrorist attack” according to officials at the scene.
The driver who was identified as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, drove a pickup truck through a crowd of people on Bourbon Street around 3:15 am. Jabbar then reportedly exited his truck and opened fire on police, wounding two, before he was ultimately killed by return fire. Investigators have also revealed that the suspect was in possession of an ISIS flag during the attack.
According to CNN, investigators are also looking into possible accomplices who may have planted improvised explosive devices in the French Quarter signaling that Jabbar didn’t act alone.
The suspect was a U.S. Citizen and a military veteran
As investigators begin to dive into the past of the now-dead suspect, it’s been revealed that Jabbar was a U.S. citizen and had previously served in the U.S. Military. Court documents also revealed that Jabbar worked in IT and real estate and had recently struggled financially.
The Sugar Bowl moved to Thursday
The Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame was moved to Thursday in the wake of the attack as officials and investigators can better determine if the scene is safe for spectators to return to the area.
Investigators and city officials will also have to determine the security in the area with other high-profile events around the corner for Bourbon Street including the Super Bowl next month and Mardi Gras in the beginning of March.
