New Orleans Truck Attack: What Happened and Key Updates

Fifteen people were killed when a guy in a pickup truck flying the flag of the Islamic State group sparked chaos during New Orleans' New Year's celebrations. He ran away from a police barrier, collided with partygoers, and was shot dead by police, causing mayhem. According to the FBI, it is looking into the Wednesday attack as a terrorist act and does not think the driver did it alone. In addition to other devices recovered in the city's famous French Quarter, investigators uncovered weapons and an improvised explosive device in the vehicle.

We have learned from authorities that they are investigating this attack as a case of terrorism

What we currently know is as follows:

what happened new orleans truck attack 

The attacker has been identified as Houston, Texas resident Shamsuddin Jabbar, 42. He was able to navigate the lower French Quarter, which was packed with New Year's Eve revelers, in a leased white pickup truck along Bourbon Street between the 100 and 400 blocks. A law enforcement report stated that Jabbar, wearing body armor and a helmet, was firing a gun from the truck. A pipe on the truck's bed was seen to be flying an ISIS (Islamic State) flag. Before being shot and executed by police, he exchanged gunfire with several cops, wounding two of them.

Investigators found a pipe bomb containing nails and probable C4 explosives inside an ice chest next to police patrol cars at the intersection of Bourbon and Orleans Streets, about three blocks from the scene of the attack, about thirty minutes after Jabbar was shot and killed. According to the report, surveillance footage showed a lady and three males setting up the device. CNN later stated, however, that investigators cleared them of any connection to the device. A block or so from the first, a second device of a similar nature was discovered. On the top edge of the French Quarter, close to the intersection of North Rampart Street and Esplanade Avenue, investigators also discovered a third possible device in a purple bag.

Two of the items, according to the report, were pipe bombs concealed within coolers and connected for remote detonation. In Jabbar's truck, a Mason jar containing an allegedly explosive liquid was discovered along with a linked remote control. A fourth possible device was deemed non-explosive by authorities. Jabbar had been lodging in a short-term rental house in New Orleans' St. Roch district, which is roughly two miles from the French Quarter, investigators found out. The house was purposefully lit on fire when they got there. Bomb-making supplies were discovered inside the house after firemen put out the fire.

Drone footage showed a person connected to a house connected to Jabbar turning himself in to the police, according to Houston television station KPRC2. In relation to the New Orleans attack, the FBI had previously claimed that agents were engaged in "law enforcement activity" in a northern part of Houston.

What is known about the assailant?

An aerial view of the aftermath of a truck attack in New Orleans on Wednesday that killed at least 10 to 11 people.

In a company promotional film, Jabbar claimed to have been born and reared in Beaumont, Texas. From 2007 to 2015, he worked as an information technology specialist and as a human resources specialist during his 13 years in the U.S. Army. He later became an IT specialist in the Army Reserve until 2020, rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant, according to an Army commander. He served from February 2009 until January 2010 in Afghanistan.

In August 2004, Jabbar joined the Navy under the delayed entry program in addition to his Army duty, but he was released a month later. Jabbar attended Georgia State University from 2015 to 2017 and graduated with a degree in Computer Information Systems, according to school officials who spoke to *Atlanta News First*. According to company documents, Jabbar recently got involved in a number of real estate ventures.

Jabbar had been employed in a "staff-level role" since 2021, according to a statement from consulting firm Deloitte. "We are shocked to learn about reports identifying a person associated with our firm as a suspect," the statement continued. We are completely assisting authorities in their investigation because, like everyone else, we are appalled by this stupid and dishonorable act of violence." According to *The New York Times*, Jabbar had two divorces. Jabbar's conversion to Islam was noted by his second ex-wife, Nekedra Charley's new husband, Dwayne Marsh. He added that the pair had stopped letting Jabbar spend time with his girls from his marriage to Charley because of his recent unpredictable conduct.