Driver with ISIS flag plows into New Orleans crowd, 10 dead

NEW ORLEANS,— A deadly New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans’ French Quarter left 10 people dead and 35 injured when a pickup truck rammed into crowds before the driver opened fire on police. Authorities are investigating the incident as a potential act of terrorism, the FBI said.

The attacker, identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a Texas resident, died at the scene in a shootout with police. An Islamic State ISIS flag was discovered inside the rented truck, and investigators are probing possible links to terrorist organizations, according to an FBI statement.

The rampage unfolded at 3:15 a.m. near Canal and Bourbon Streets, a tourist hotspot famous for its lively bars and music scene. Witnesses described the chaos as the driver bypassed barricades and mowed down pedestrians celebrating the holiday.

New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick described the suspect’s actions as calculated and violent. “The suspect aimed to cause maximum harm,” she said at a press briefing. Two officers were injured in the gunfire exchange but are expected to recover.

Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the man who carried the attack in New Orleans, January 1, 2025. Photo: Texas DPS

More than 300 police officers, already deployed for New Year’s festivities and the city’s annual Sugar Bowl, responded to the scene. Security measures for the Sugar Bowl, which took place Wednesday night, were intensified following the attack.

“This was an act of terrorism, plain and simple,” Mayor LaToya Cantrell stated. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry echoed the sentiment, assuring residents that state and federal agencies are working together to investigate. “We are committed to uncovering every detail and bringing any accomplices to justice,” he said in a post on X.

Shocking videos shared on social media captured the aftermath, showing bodies scattered across the street as bystanders and emergency personnel rushed to help. Witness Zion Parsons, 18, recounted narrowly escaping the truck. “My friend was hit, and her leg twisted unnaturally around her body,” he said. “I saw it all happen so fast.”

Authorities discovered firearms and a suspected explosive device in the truck. Additional explosive materials were found nearby in the French Quarter, officials reported.

Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the man who carried the attack in New Orleans, after being killed by the police, January 1, 2025. Photo: X

The attack drew comparisons to similar incidents worldwide, including a December tragedy in Magdeburg, Germany, where a vehicle plowed into a Christmas market, killing five.

President Joe Biden condemned the attack, offering federal resources to assist the investigation. “This was an act of pure evil,” he said in a statement. Construction efforts to fortify pedestrian areas in the French Quarter, which began in late 2024, were ongoing at the time of the attack, city officials noted.

As the investigation continues, authorities urge the public to remain alert. Further updates are expected as officials analyze the evidence and piece together the motive behind the deadly rampage.

Jabbar came from an African American family.

(With files from Reuters)