The FBI said US army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar was driving a truck that bore an Islamic State flag. (Image: Getty)
A US Army veteran who drove a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year’s revellers in New Orleans, killing 15 people, posted videos on social media before the carnage saying he was inspired by the group.
President said Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a US-born citizen and Army veteran from Texas, also expressed a desire to kill. The FBI said it was investigating on Wednesday (January 1) as a act and did not believe Jabbar acted alone.
Detectives found guns and what appeared to be an improvised explosive device in the white pick-up truck, which bore the flag of the Islamic State group — along with other explosive devices elsewhere in the city’s French Quarter.
Mr Biden said on Wednesday that the FBI found the videos the driver posted to social media. He called the attack a “despicable” and “heinous act”.
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KEY EVENTS
- 08:37
Jabbar not solely responsible, FBI agent says
FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alethea Duncan said at a news conference that the agency does not believe Jabbar was solely responsible.
Investigators found multiple improvised explosives, including two pipe bombs wired for remote detonation, according to a Louisiana State Police intelligence briefing.
Surveillance footage showed three men and a woman placing one of the devices, but federal officials did not immediately confirm the detail and it wasn’t clear who they were or what connection they had to the attack, if any.
Jabbar was not solely responsible, the FBI says (Image: Getty)
What do we know so far?
US Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, drove a pick-up truck through a crowd of New Year’s Eve revellers in Bourbon Street, New Orleans, in the early hours of January 1.
The death toll was initially given as 10 but has risen to 15.
People fled screaming for safety into bars and nightclubs as Jabbar mowed down revellers who had been celebrating the New Year.
Dozens of people were hurt during the attack, which is being treated as an act of terror by law enforcement.
Jabbar bypassed safety barriers intended to keep people safe and was “hell bent” on “creating carnage”, according to New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick.
She said it wasn’t just an act of terrorism, adding: “This is evil.”
The attacker was killed by police after he got out of the truck and opened fire on officers. Two police who were shot are in a stable condition.
A handgun and AR-style rifle were found inside the truck. A photo circulated among law enforcement officials showed a bearded Jabbar wearing camouflage next to the truck after he was killed.
The intelligence bulletin said he was wearing a ballistic vest and helmet. The flag of the Islamic State group was on the truck’s trailer hitch, according to the FBI.
Detectives found guns and what appeared to be an improvised explosive device inside the truck, along with other devices elsewhere in the city’s French Quarter.
The FBI says an Islamic State flag was attached to the truck (Image: Getty)
Welcome to our blog
Good morning and welcome to our live blog where we’ll be bringing you the latest after 15 people were killed in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.