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A Texas man identified as the suspect in the deadly New Orleans New Year's attack posted videos on social media expressing his "desire to kill" and claiming to be "inspired by ISIS" just hours before driving a truck into a crowd, President Joe Biden revealed.
On January 1, Biden, 82, condemned the "despicable and heinous act," which killed 15 people and injured dozens, during a speech shared on The White House's X (formerly Twitter) page. The attack, now classified as an act of terrorism by the FBI, occurred at 3:15 a.m. local time when a Ford pickup truck plowed into a crowded area on Bourbon Street.
The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen born in Texas, died in a police shootout following the attack. Biden revealed that Jabbar, a former U.S. Army servicemember, had posted videos online shortly before the incident, showing allegiance to ISIS and detailing his intent to kill. An ISIS flag was later found in the rented vehicle, along with potential explosives.
"I want to express my deepest condolences to the families of the victims and all those grieving in New Orleans. Our nation mourns with you and will support you as you heal," Biden said. He also praised law enforcement and emergency services for intervening quickly, preventing further casualties.
The FBI confirmed the attacker's ties to ISIS are under investigation, as well as his potential affiliations with other terrorist groups. "The FBI found additional explosives near the scene and is analyzing the suspect's connections and motives," the president noted.
Authorities are also investigating whether the attack is linked to the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas earlier that day. One person died, and seven others sustained minor injuries in the Cybertruck incident. Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that the truck, rented in Colorado, contained fireworks and gas canisters.
While Biden acknowledged the ongoing investigations into both incidents, he said, "Thus far, there is no evidence of a direct connection." He assured the public that federal agencies are working tirelessly to uncover the full extent of both events and will provide updates as they become available.
