On New Year’s Day, a tragic attack in New Orleans left at least 15 people dead. President Biden addressed the nation from Camp David, sharing the heartbreaking details of the incident and the ongoing investigation. The attack, which occurred in the early hours of the morning on Bourbon Street, was described by the president as “despicable.”
The person responsible for this horrific act has been identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Army Reserve veteran from Texas. Just hours before the attack, Jabbar posted videos online expressing his admiration for ISIS and a desire to kill. Authorities are now looking into whether this tragedy was linked to a larger terror plot.
Federal agencies like the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Justice Department are all working together to uncover more details. They are also exploring whether there’s any connection between the New Orleans attack and a separate explosion outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas that same day.
A Terrifying Discovery
After the attack, law enforcement found an ISIS flag inside the vehicle Jabbar was driving, which appeared to be rented. In addition to the flag, they also discovered weapons and a suspected bomb.
In a heartfelt message, President Biden reached out to those affected by the New Orleans tragedy: “To all the people in New Orleans grieving today, I want you to know I grieve with you, our nation grieves with you, and we will stand with you as you mourn and heal in the weeks to come.”
More Questions than Answers
As the investigation continues, the FBI has also been conducting law enforcement activities in Houston, linking it to the New Orleans attack. At this point, officials are urging the public not to jump to conclusions, and they are working to understand whether there are any other threats to public safety.
This devastating series of events has left many questions unanswered, but authorities are determined to get to the bottom of it all. Let’s stay tuned as more information becomes available.