The person who drove a pick-up truck into individuals celebrating the New Yr in New Orleans is believed to have acted alone, in line with the FBI – as new info was revealed concerning the two improvised explosive units (IEDs) recovered close to the scene.
There’s additionally “no definitive hyperlink” between the assault and the Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas, stated FBI deputy assistant director Christopher Raia.
Shamsud-Din Jabbar’s rented truck rammed into individuals in New Orleans’ well-known Bourbon Road, killing 14 and injuring dozens, within the early hours of New Yr’s Day.
New Orleans attack – follow latest
Mr Raia known as the assault “premeditated” and an “evil” act of terrorism, and stated Jabbar was “100% impressed by ISIS”, often known as Islamic State.
He additionally stated the FBI was reviewing two laptops and three telephones linked to Jabbar, in addition to two improvised explosive units (IEDs) recovered close to the scene of the attack.
The 2 “practical” units contained nails and had been fabricated from galvanized pipe with finish caps, and taped inside two coolers, in line with Sky Information’ US companion NBC Information, citing the FBI and two senior US regulation enforcement officers. Each units had receivers for distant firing, they stated.
It was not instantly clear if Jabbar tried to detonate the units, or in the event that they malfunctioned, the officers stated.
5 movies posted in hours earlier than assault
The 42-year-old military veteran, who was born within the US and lived in Texas, was shot useless after he crashed and opened fireplace on police.
The FBI stated he posted 5 movies on his Fb account between 1.29am and three.02am – with the assault going down round 3.15am.
In a single, he stated he deliberate to hurt household and buddies however was involved headlines wouldn’t deal with the “warfare between the believers and disbelievers”.
He additionally joined Islamic State “earlier than this summer season” and supplied a will, Mr Raia informed reporters.
A black ISIS flag was hooked up to the again of the white Ford truck used within the assault and was pictured mendacity subsequent to the car.
Jabbar talked about working in actual property after leaving the military in a 2020 YouTube video
An ISIS flag on the location the place the truck crashed
Learn extra:
‘Quiet and smart’ veteran – what we know about suspect
Teenage girl and Princeton grad among first victims named
Authorities stated Jabbar drove round police barricades on to the footpath, with witnesses describing carnage because the truck sped down the road, knocking individuals over.
“You simply heard this squeal and the rev of the engine and this big loud affect after which the individuals screaming,” stated one witness, Kimberly Strickland from Alabama.
Limitations defending pedestrians had been eliminated for repairs earlier than the assault, metropolis officers stated, and had been due to get replaced with a brand new bollard design.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
New Orleans police chief challenged by Sky’s US correspondent James Matthews
Whereas the works had been going down, that they had been changed with white gate obstacles which had been managed by the New Orleans Police Division, in line with the Metropolis Of New Orleans.
Among the many victims named so far are an 18-year-old aspiring nurse, a single mom with a four-year-old son, and a graduate of Princeton College.
Victims, clockwise from high left: Reggie Hunter, Martin ‘Tiger’ Bech, Nicole Perez and Matthew Tenedorio
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
‘I like you’ – sufferer’s final phrases to brother
What we find out about Shamsud-Din Jabbar
The FBI additionally stated CCTV confirmed Jabbar putting the IEDs close to the scene. Nonetheless, none of them went off.
The investigation is predicted to have a look at any help or inspiration he could have drawn from IS or any of its affiliate teams.
The bureau has acquired greater than 400 ideas from members of the general public and greater than 1,000 brokers and officers have been engaged on the case.
Jabbar held human sources and IT roles within the military from 2007 till 2015, and was stationed in Afghanistan for a yr. He was then within the reserves till 2020.
Learn extra:
‘The last conversation we had – he told me he loved me’
Witnesses say carnage after attack ‘like a movie’
A buddy described him as “very quiet, very reserved, smart, articulate” and stated he had been raised a Christian earlier than changing to Islam a very long time in the past.
In the meantime, the Sugar Bowl school American soccer recreation went forward on Thursday afternoon, with a second of silence beforehand, after being postponed on Wednesday following the assault. Town may even host the Tremendous Bowl subsequent month.
