New Orleans New Year's Horror: 15 Dead, 30 Injured in Truck Attack with ISIS Flag; FBI Probes Terror Link

On New Year's Day, January 1, 2025, New Orleans was struck by a horrific incident when a pickup truck, driven by Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen from Texas, plowed into a crowd celebrating in the French Quarter's Bourbon Street around 3:15 a.m. The truck bore an Islamic State (ISIS) flag, signaling the attack as potentially terrorism-related. The event resulted in at least 15 deaths and over 30 injuries, marking a grim start to the new year in a city known for its vibrant celebrations.

Jabbar, identified as an Army veteran who served from 2006 to 2020, including a deployment to Afghanistan, was killed by police in an exchange of gunfire after he crashed the vehicle and began shooting at law enforcement. Two police officers were injured in the shootout but are reported to be in stable condition. The truck, which was rented, contained weapons and a potential improvised explosive device (IED), with additional IEDs found nearby but not detonated.

The FBI is actively investigating this event as an act of terrorism, emphasizing that Jabbar likely did not act alone. Authorities are seeking public assistance to identify and apprehend any associates of Jabbar. A residence linked to him in New Orleans was also found on fire, with bomb-making materials discovered inside once the blaze was extinguished.

The attack occurred close to where New Orleans was preparing for the Sugar Bowl, leading to the postponement of the college football game to Thursday. The city is also set to host the Super Bowl on February 9, 2025, which adds a layer of security concern to the already heightened alert in the aftermath of this attack.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick have described the attack as intentional and evil, highlighting the driver's apparent mission to cause maximum damage. The incident has left the community in shock, with immediate responses including a moment of silence at the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, in solidarity with New Orleans.

This tragic event has not only caused immediate devastation but also raises significant questions about public safety, counter-terrorism measures, and the vulnerability of high-profile events to such attacks, prompting a reassessment of security protocols in New Orleans and potentially across the U.S.