NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Multiple people are dead after a pickup truck plowed into a group of people on Bourbon Street in New Orleans early on New Year’s Day, the New Orleans Police Department said.
Two officers were also shot during the incident. Sources have confirmed to Nexstar’s WGNO that the suspect in the crime was shot and killed by NOPD officers in a return of gunfire.
The driver was identified as Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, 42, six law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. The officials were not authorized to discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Investigators were working to gather additional information about Jabbar’s background and investigating an unfurled black flag that was with the vehicle, the officials said.
New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell called the incident a “terrorist attack” during a press conference on Wednesday.
New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick also stated that the incident was intentional. Preliminary investigations revealed that Jabbar drove around the barricades to conduct the act, she said.
“He was hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did,” Kirkpatrick said. “It was very intentional behavior. This man was trying to run over as many people as he could.”
Additionally, Bourbon Street has been shut down at this time, according to the NOPD. Officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigations advise drivers and pedestrians to avoid the surrounding area including Canal to St. Ann streets.
Investigators were combing the French Quarter for potential explosive devices, a law enforcement official told the Associated Press. The official was not authorized to discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
President Joe Biden said the FBI is investigating the “horrific incident” as “an act of terrorism” and that he has directed his team to ensure every resource is available as authorities work to “get to the bottom of what happened as quickly as possible.”
“My heart goes out to the victims and their families who were simply trying to celebrate the holiday,” Biden said in a written statement. “There is no justification for violence of any kind, and we will not tolerate any attack on any of our nation’s communities.”
The mass casualty incident took place around 3:15 a.m. at the corner of Bourbon and Iberville streets. As of Wednesday morning at 6 a.m., the New Orleans Police Department reported 10 fatalities with possibly 30 others injured.
The injured were taken to five hospitals, the city’s emergency preparedness department said.
“A horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street earlier this morning. Please join Sharon and I in praying for all the victims and first responders on scene,” said Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry. “I urge all near the scene to avoid the area.”
A briefing with authorities is currently scheduled for 1 p.m. CT to give an update.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. This is a developing story.
Source: Fox 8 News Channel