New Orleans attack: Suspect identified as US citizen in attack that left 15 dead, sources say
The suspect in the New Orleans vehicle ramming attack is Shamsud Din Jabbar, multiple law enforcement sources told ABC News.
NEW ORLEANS, La. -- A suspect who was "hell-bent" on killing as many people as possible drove a rented pickup truck around barricades and plowed his vehicle through a crowd of New Year's revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans at a high rate of speed, leaving at least 15 dead and injuring dozens of others early Wednesday, city and federal officials said.
After mowing down numerous people over a three-block stretch on the famed thoroughfare while firing shots into the crowd, the suspect -- identified by sources as Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42 -- allegedly got out of the truck wielding an assault rifle and opened fire on police officers, law enforcement officials briefed on the incident told ABC News. The FBI does not "believe Jabbar was solely responsible" for the incident, which is being investigated as an act of terror.
RELATED: FBI doesn't believe attacker was 'solely responsible,' asks public for help
Officers returned fire, killing Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas, sources said. At least two police officers were shot and wounded, authorities said.
Rep. Troy Carter, D-Louisiana, told ABC News Wednesday afternoon that the number of people killed in the incident has risen from 10 to 15. He said another 25 people were hospitalized with injuries.
A University of Georgia student is among the injured, the school's president said.
The Ochsner Hospital System said Wednesday afternoon that four patients were treated at Ochsner Baptist and released Wednesday morning.
Improvised explosive devices found in and around the scene on Bourbon Street were apparently found to be viable and investigators were looking for more in the city's French Quarter, multiple law enforcement sources tell ABC News. The FBI said two devices were found and rendered safe.
It appears that the truck the suspect rented was spotted in Texas on Tuesday, but it was not clear if the suspect was in the vehicle at the time, according to a source citing preliminary law enforcement information. An ISIS flag along with weapons were found in the vehicle and investigators were trying to assess the suspect's connection to terror groups, the FBI said.
New Orleans police released Jabbar's passport photo, and said "This may not represent his exact appearance as of this date."
The public is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or visit tips.fbi.gov if they interacted with him within the last 72 hours.
The Sugar Bowl has been postponed from Wednesday night to Thursday, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams told ABC News. The game was set to kickoff Wednesday night in New Orleans where police remain focused on securing the French Quarter after the vehicle ramming attack.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families as we work through this," said Jeff Hundley, the chief executive officer of the Allstate Sugar Bowl. "We have full faith and confidence in the governor and the mayor and all the federal, state, and local first-responders that they've applied to this horrific event. Any time we have an event like the Sugar Bowl, public safety is paramount, and all parties involved agree that could only be achieved with a postponement. Now we will move ahead to take care of the details to make the Sugar Bowl the first-class, fun, and safe event that it has been for over 90 years."
Jason Williams, the district attorney of Orleans Parrish, which includes New Orleans, told ABC News that investigators are conducting a grid search to determine if other explosive devices were planted.
Williams also said an investigation is underway on whether barricades along Bourbon Street were still up at the time of the attack.
"It appears that the bollards may not have in a fully operation mode, but there was a police vehicle that was there to deter any vehicle from getting onto Bourbon Street," Carter said. "My understanding is that they may have gone around the police vehicle and gone through the sidewalk and that's how they gained entry. That information is still being gathered."
Investigated as terror attack
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the horrific incident a "terrorist attack" and the FBI said it was being investigated as an act of terror. The bloodshed comes on the heels of a deadly vehicle ramming attack in Germany. Fears of such attacks were a growing concern among law enforcement as well as attacks by lone actors at winter holiday events.
Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the driver had attempted to kill as many people as possible. The truck used in the attack appeared to be a F-150 Lightning, an electric vehicle.
By the time the melee had ended, at least 35 people were injured, New Orleans police and city officials said. Most of the victims appeared to be local, officials said.
RELATED: Truck driven in deadly New Orleans attack rented from Texas, sources confirm
"He was hell-bent on creating the carnage that he did," Kirkpatrick said at a news conference early Wednesday.
The New Orleans Police Department said the attack occurred despite the force being "staffed 100%" for New Year's Eve and the Sugar Bowl, a college football game played annually on New Year's Day. An additional 300 officers were on duty from partner agencies, the police department said.
President Joe Biden said Wednesday evening that the FBI found videos that the driver had posted to social media hours before the attack in which he said he was inspired by the Islamic State group and expressed a desire to kill.
'Horrific act of violence'
"A horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street earlier this morning," Gov. Jeff Landry said, adding that his family was praying for the victims and first responders.
Witness Jimmy Cothran of New Orleans told ABC News that he and a friend were walking on Bourbon Street when the truck attack began. He said they ducked into a bar and within minutes, four frantic women pushed through security, rushed into the bar and hid under tables.
"When we got on the balcony, what we saw was insanity," Cothran, a certified emergency medical technician, said. "I mean it was something out of a movie, the graphic nature of it. It was unbelievable. We instantly counted I'd saw 10 bodies, six clearly graphically deceased and the others yelling with one around. Everyone had just cleared the street completely."
RELATED: Witnesses describe scenes of carnage after deadly New Orleans attack
Cothran said he tried to go out and help the injured but was stopped by security.
Another witness, who requested to be identified only as Paul S., told ABC News he was startled awake by the sound of what he initially thought was fireworks.
"Around 3:15 [a.m.], we heard a 'pop, pop, pop, pop' sound followed by a sound that sounded like fireworks going off, like big fireworks all at once," Paul S. said. "Then it turned out that was the crash."
He said he looked outside his hotel window, he saw a chaotic scene with bodies strewn on the street below.
"What I was was if you can imagine a street with brick and whatnot littered all around the sidewalk, and then there were bodies laid up next to garbage cans and people rushing to give aid," Paul S. said.
He said he observed a man who had been thrown from his wheelchair lying on the ground next to the truck involved in in the attack writhing in pain.
"There was also a body underneath a scissor lift," Paul S. said.
Truck apparently rented through app
The Ford F-150 Lightning truck used in the attack was apparently rented through the Turo app -- a car sharing company, the owner of the truck said. He told ABC News he rented the truck to an individual through the app and is currently talking to the FBI. He declined further comment.
Deploying 'every available resource'
Attorney General Merrick Garland confirmed the FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism. He said the the Justice Department's National Security Division, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana are working with local law enforcement and "will deploy every available resource to conduct this investigation."
"The country woke up this morning to news of a terrible tragedy in New Orleans that killed at least 10 people and injured many more," Garland said in a statement. "My heart is broken for those who began their year by learning people they love were killed in this horrific attack, and my prayers are with the dozens who were injured, including the New Orleans Police Department Officers who risked their lives to save others."
Leading up to the holidays, federal law enforcement and intelligence had warned police around the country that low-tech vehicle ramming was a key area of concern and that they needed to prepare -- and that was before the German Christmas market attack on Dec. 20, in which five people were killed and hundreds were injured.
In a Dec. 9 assessment for the Times Square New Year's Eve celebration, federal and local agencies wrote: "We remain concerned about the use of vehicle ramming against high-profile outdoor events...Vehicle ramming has become a recurring tactic employed by threat actors in the West, marked by a continued interest by (terrorists, extremists) and lone offenders in targeting crowded pedestrian areas."
Those looking for information on loved ones should call 211 or 311 (local residents) or 504-539-3266 (out of state). Additional inquiries should be directed to law enforcement or communications@nola.gov.
The city of New Orleans flag will be lowered to half-staff in honor of the victims.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell signed an Emergency Declaration to activate the city's emergency response.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
