At least 15 people were killed and dozens injured after a man, identified by the FBI as a US military veteran, Plowing pickup truck Amidst a crowd of New Year’s revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, United States.

The suspect, who has since been killed in a shootout with police, has been identified as Shams al-Din Jabbar, a US citizen from Texas.

The FBI is investigating the attack as an act of “terrorism” and said it does not believe the driver acted alone in the attack on one of the country’s top tourist destinations. However, the Federal Bureau of Investigation did not specify what evidence was used to make this legal decision.

US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that the FBI informed him that the suspect posted videos on social media indicating that he was inspired by the ideas of the armed ISIS organization and expressed a “desire to kill.”

Here’s what we know about the incident, the suspect and the latest developments on the ground.

What happened in New Orleans and when?

• At around 3:15 a.m. (09:15 GMT) on Wednesday, a rented Ford F-150 pickup truck drove at high speed into a crowd of New Year’s revelers in New Orleans, according to local police.
• New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Ann Kirkpatrick said the driver swerved around curbs and was driving “at a very high speed” and in a “very intentional” manner.
• After the car stopped, the driver jumped out of the car and opened fire at the officers, who responded by shooting and killing him.
• Hours after the attack, three forensic trucks stood at the site of the hit-and-run, surrounded by police tape as tourists gathered nearby.
• The FBI said they found an explosive device at the site, but are working to confirm whether it is valid or not.
• Jabbar apparently rented the F-150 Lightning electric truck from car rental site Turo, according to CNN.
• Authorities found that the same rental site was linked to an incident Wednesday in Las Vegas, where a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump Hotel. It is not clear whether the two incidents are related.

Who is the suspect?

The FBI identified the suspect as 42-year-old Jabbar, who served in the US Army between 2007 and 2020. It was also deployed in Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010.

He graduated from Georgia State University in 2017 with a degree in Computer Information Systems.

The FBI said an ISIS flag was present in the vehicle used in the attack.

New Orleans City Council President Helena Moreno said the suspect was wearing full military gear and police described his actions as deliberate.

“This guy was trying to run over as many people as possible,” Kirkpatrick, the police chief, told reporters on Wednesday.

She added: “He was intent on creating the carnage and the damage he caused.”

Where did the incident happen?

The accident occurred in New Orleans, a city located in the southwestern state of Louisiana. It is located on the Mississippi River near the Gulf of Mexico.

The car traveled along Canal Street to Bourbon Street, the heart of the city’s famous French Quarter, an area known for its bars, restaurants and jazz history.

Bourbon Street is known around the world as one of the biggest destinations for New Year’s Eve parties. New Orleans is the number one tourist destination that attracted millions last year.

The city also hosted crowds anticipating a College Football Playoff Sugar Bowl later Wednesday at the nearby Superdome. The match was postponed for 24 hours after the attack.

However, it has encountered previous incidents, including shootings and vehicle crashes into crowds, such as two shootings in November 2024 that left two dead and 10 injured during a military parade.

How many people were killed?

At least 15 people were killed, and 35 others were injured, according to police reports.

Among the wounded were two police officers who were shot by the driver.

Zion Parsons, 18, of Gulfport, Mississippi, said he saw the truck “drive up and throw people like in a movie, throwing them into the air.”

“Bodies, bodies everywhere in the street, everyone screaming and screaming,” Parsons, whose friend Nekira Dido was among those killed, told the AP.

Among the dead was Princeton University football player Martin “Tiger” Beck.

“He was a ‘Tiger’ through and through – a fierce competitor with endless energy, a beloved teammate and a caring friend. Our final conversation was about how proud I was of the growth he showed during his time at Princeton and the success he achieved after graduation,” said football coach Bob Surace. “My love goes out to the entire Beck family,” according to the Princeton football website.

Was the New Orleans incident a “terrorist attack”?

The FBI said on Wednesday that it was working with its partners “to investigate this as an act of terrorism.”

“The FBI is working to determine the subject’s potential connections and connections to terrorist organizations,” Alethea Duncan, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI in New Orleans, told reporters.

“We do not believe that Jabbar was solely responsible,” Duncan said. “We are aggressively tracking all leads, including those of his known associates.”

However, the evidence used to make this legal decision has not been determined and information about a possible motive has not been released.

What’s the latest on Earth?

The FBI leads the investigation and Bourbon Street is cordoned off.

Local authorities set up a collection point at the University Medical Center for families to check on their loved ones.

Despite the incident, Louisiana State Senator Bill Cassidy stated that New Orleans law enforcement is prepared for the Sugar Bowl on Wednesday, with the Superdome now closed to ensure safety.

US President Joe Biden assured Mayor LaToya Cantrell of full federal support in the wake of the attack, while the White House confirmed that the president would receive ongoing updates.

US President-elect Donald Trump also offered his condolences, describing the attack as “an act of pure evil.”