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ReutersTen people were killed and at least 35 injured after a man drove into a crowd of people in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the early hours of New Year’s Day, authorities said.
Here’s what we know so far about what happened and the perpetrator.
How did the attack unfold?
At 03:15 local time on New Year’s Day, a Ford pickup plowed into a crowd of people gathered on Bourbon Street in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter.
Surveillance footage shows a white Ford F-150 Lightning pull onto the sidewalk to avoid a police car before hitting the pedestrians.
Police described the act as “very deliberate”, adding that the attacker – identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar – was “bent on creating carnage and causing harm”.
“This person was trying to run over as many people as possible,” New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said.
Jabbar was also armed and fired at law enforcement officers, injuring two officers. He was then killed by police fire.
Whit Davis, from Shreveport, Louisiana, told the BBC that after the attack, he was held in a bar with a large group while police secured the scene.
As they left, they “passed the bodies of the dead and wounded all over the street,” he said.
Who was Shamsud-Din Jabbar?
The FBI identified the attacker as 42-year-old Shamsud-Deen Jabbar, an Army veteran and US citizen from Texas.
A flag linked to the Islamic State group was found in the car he was driving, and the FBI said it was looking into what ties Jabbar may have had to terror groups.
The agency also said investigators do not believe the suspect is solely responsible for the attack. Suspected improvised explosive devices were found in the area.
A long gun with a “choke device” that acted as a silencer was also found.
According to his now-deleted LinkedIn profile, Jabbar worked in various positions in the U.S. military, including human resources and IT, before he was discharged.
Attended George State University from 2015 to 2017, graduating with a degree in Computer Information Systems.
He also appears to have worked in real estate and had a license that expired in 2021. He had a criminal record related to traffic violations and theft.
The pickup he was driving was electric and believed to have been rented in Texas through an app.
Who were the victims?
Police said 10 people were killed and at least 35 injured. No one has been publicly named.
The president of the University of Georgia said one of the students was seriously injured, while the Israeli government said two citizens were among the injured.
Police said the victims appeared to be mostly locals from New Orleans, although many tourists came to celebrate New Year’s and the postponed Sugar Bowl, which is part of the American College Football Playoff.
It was scheduled to begin later Wednesday night at the Caesar Superdome, which is not far from the site of the attack.
Where did it happen?
Bourbon Street is a famous nightlife and tourist spot filled with restaurants, bars and live music clubs.
It is located in the French Quarter of New Orleans, a lively area that attracts tourists and locals, especially for New Year’s Eve celebrations.
It was founded by the French in 1718, and the original grid of streets designed back then is central to what draws visitors to the city.
Each year, more than a million people gather for the famous spring carnival and Mardi Gras parade, famous for the strings of colorful beads worn by partygoers.
