New Orleans attack latest: FBI says they do not believe suspected terrorist worked alone before killing 10

The suspect who killed at least 10 people and injured dozens of others after ramming a truck into a crowd of people in New Orleans had an ISIS flag in the vehicle, the FBI confirmed.

The suspect, who was shot and killed by the FBI, has been named as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar.

The FBI is investigating the 3:15 a.m. Wednesday incident where a vehicle drove into a crowd on the famed Bourbon Street in the first hours of New Year’s Day.

The suspect acted with “very intentional behavior,” police have said. Two officers were struck in a gunfire exchange with the suspect and are now in stable condition.

The federal agency is now investigating the incident as an “act of terrorism.” New Orleans police said the driver was trying to “run over as many people as he possibly could.”

Officials do not believe Jabbar acted alone and are investigating potential accomplices.

Alethea Duncan, an assistant special agent from the FBI, said officials were investigating the discovery of at least one suspected improvised explosive device.

Footage circulating online, which appears to show the aftermath of the incident, shows multiple lying on the floor as people run from the area. One person who says they witnessed the incident described it on social media as the “most horrific thing I’ve ever seen.”

Key Points

• FBI confirms suspect is US citizen Shamsud-Din Jabbar from Texas

• Suspect’s truck reportedly had ISIS flag

• Driver ‘dead’ after ramming car into crowd killing 10 on Bourbon Street

• Louisiana governor condemns ‘horrific act of violence’ on Bourbon Street

• Two officers shot by driver

• Baton Rouge father of two killed, cousin injured in attack

• The attack came hours before the AllState Sugar Bowl

• Mississippi teen killed in attack

Officials don’t believe car attacker worked alone

19:13 , Josh Marcus

Officials believe New Orleans car attack suspect 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar worked alone.“We do not believe Jabbar was solely responsible,” FBI agent Alethea Duncan said on Wednesday during a press conference. “We are aggressively running down every lead, including those of his known associates.”

Baton Rouge father of two killed, cousin injured in attack

19:02 , Josh Marcus

Reggie Hunter, 37, a father of two from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was among the 10 people killed in the New Orleans car attack during New Year’s celebrations, according to family.

His cousin Shirell Jackson told NOLA.com that Hunter got off work and headed to Bourbon Street with a cousin. “They decided to go out there because he came in from work and said, ‘Hey, the Sugar Bowl is tomorrow. It’s New Year’s Eve. Let’s go to the city,” Jackson said. “Just something so simple. Hey cuz, had, wanna ride me to the city?”

Hunter died of his injuries, while his companion was injured, Jackson said.

UGA student among injured in New Orleans attack

18:55 , Josh Marcus

Information is emerging about those impacted by the New Year’s Eve attack in New Orleans.

A University of Georgia student was among the at least 30 people who were injured.

“I am deeply saddened by the devastating attack in New Orleans overnight, and I extend my sincere condolences to the victims, their families, and all those affected by this terrible tragedy,” UGA President Jere W. Morehead wrote in a statement.

“At this point, we have learned that a University of Georgia student was critically injured in the attack and is receiving medical treatment,” he added. “I have spoken to the student’s family and shared my concern, support and well wishes on behalf of the entire UGA community.”

Superdome on lockdown for security sweeps ahead of Sugar Bowl

18:54 , Josh Marcus

Security officials have locked down the New Orleans Superdome for security sweeps, after a New Year’s Eve car attack on Bourbon Street that killed 10 people, the Associated Press reports.

The stadium is set to host the College Football Playoff quarterfinal between Georgia and Notre Dame.

The game was originally scheduled for 7:45 p.m. local time.

Mississippi teen killed in attack

18:50 , Josh Marcus

Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, 18, of Gulfport, Mississippi, was among those killed in the New Orleans car attack, her family said.

“I just want to see my baby,” Melissa Dedeaux, 40, told the New Orleans Advocate. “She was the sweetest person. She would give you anything, anything.”

Dedeaux was in New Orleans to celebrate the new year on Bourbon Street with a cousin.

She graduated from high school in 2024 and was planning on studying nursing.

NFL ‘confident’ Super Bowl will be ‘safe’

18:40 , Rhian Lubin

The NFL, due to hold the Super Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans in February, has said it is “confident” attendees will have a “safe and enjoyable experience.”

Read the full statement.

Everything we know about suspected terrorist involved in New Orleans mass killing

18:30 , Rhian Lubin

The suspect in this morning’s deadly attack has been identified as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar and he had an ISIS flag in his car, according to reports.

The FBI is now investigating the incident “as an act of terrorism.”

Kelly Rissman reports on everything we know about the suspect and the tragedy so far.

Shamsud Din Jabbar: Everything we know about suspected New Orleans terrorist

FBI confirms suspect was a US citizen from Texas

18:13 , Kelly Rissman, Rhian Lubin

The FBI has confirmed that the suspect was a US citizen from Texas.

Authorities named the suspect as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar and confirmed investigators found an ISIS flag in his pickup truck.

They also updated that a potential IED was found in the suspect’s vehicle, which they believe was rented.

Here’s the full update from the FBI:

“The subject has been identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas. He was driving a Ford pickup truck, which appears to have been rented and we are working to confirm how the subject came into possession of the vehicle.

“An ISIS flag was located in the vehicle and the FBI is working to determine the subject’s potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations.

“Weapons and a potential IED were located in the subject’s vehicle. Other potential IEDs were also located in the French Quarter. The FBI’s Special Agent Bomb Technicians are working with our law enforcement partners to determine if any of these devices are viable and they will work to render those devices safe.”

Pickup truck used in deadly attack was rented – reports

17:50 , Rhian Lubin

The pickup truck used in the deadly New Year’s Day attack was reportedly a rental.

According to CNN and ABC News, the suspect rented the truck from an app that allows owners to rent out their vehicles, federal law enforcement sources said.

Drone images from the scene show the wrecked truck.

New drone images show smashed truck at the scene

17:40 , Rhian Lubin

New drone images show the smashed-up pickup truck at the scene.

Handgun and AR-style rifle recovered – law enforcement official

17:29 , Rhian Lubin

Law enforcement has recovered a handgun and AR-style rifle after the driver killed 10 in this morning’s attack, according to the Associated Press, citing an official.

More details are starting to emerge about the suspect, who has been named as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabba, according to Times-Picayune, citing a law enforcement source.

NEW: Suspect’s truck reportedly had ISIS flag – report

17:17 , Rhian Lubin

The suspect in this morning’s deadly attack reportedly had an ISIS flag in it, according to Times-Picayune, citing a law enforcement source.

He has been named as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, the newspaper reports.

Police shot and killed the suspect.

Investigators probing whether fire at Airbnb property is connected to attack

17:11 , Rhian Lubin

Investigators are probing whether a fire that broke out at a nearby Airbnb property is connected to the New Year’s Day attack, according to Times-Picayune.

Sources told the newspaper that investigators believe the Airbnb was rented by the suspect.

Bomb squad and law enforcement officials attended the fire at an address approximately a 10 minute drive from Bourbon Street, according to the outlet.

Trump uses New Orleans attack to slam migrants without offering proof one was involved

17:00 , Eric Garcia

President-elect Donald Trump used the mass-killing event in New Orleans to talk about immigration despite the fact police had not confirmed the identity of the suspect.

The president-elect posted on Truth Social Wednesday saying that immigrants were more likely to commit worse crimes than U.S. citizens.

Read the full story below.

Trump slams migrants in comments about New Orleans attack

Authorities give update on investigation

16:42 , Alex Lang

New Orleans officials are giving an update on their investigation into the attack.

At least 10 are dead and 35 were hurt in the incident. New Orleans police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the suspect went around the barricades that were up to carry out his attack.

“He was hellbent on creating the carnage and damage that he did,” she said.

City was in the middle of new bollard project

16:40 , Alex Woodward

The New Year’s Day attack occurred at the intersections of Iberville and Bourbon streets, just one block from the entrance to Bourbon at the major Canal Street thoroughfare.

Permanent retractable barriers were installed in 2017 as part of then-Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s $40 million plan to boost security and make the French Quarter more pedestrian-friendly — part of a much larger master plan to make the French Quarter a more family-friendly tourist destination, which residents weren’t thrilled about.

The bollards, debuting ahead of the NBA All-Star Game, were partially in response to a mass murder in France in 2016, when a terrorist plowed into a Bastille Day crowd and killed 86 people.

The city installed a series of bollards between Canal and St. Ann streets. But the city was in the middle of a new bollard project, with plans to finish by the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras 2025.

Chunks of road were being removed to take out the existing bollards, though it’s unclear how far the city got.

A previous barrier at Canal and Bourbon streets was recently removed.

President Joe Biden releases statement on NYD attack

16:20 , Rhian Lubin

President Joe Biden has shared a statement on the New Year’s Day attack:

“I have been continually briefed since early this morning by federal law enforcement leadership and my homeland security team, including Secretary of Homeland Security Ali Mayorkas, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall, and the Mayor of New Orleans regarding the horrific incident that occurred there overnight.

The FBI is taking the lead in the investigation and is investigating this incident as an act of terrorism. I am grateful for the brave and swift response of local law enforcement in preventing even greater death and injury.

I have directed my team to ensure every resource is available as federal, state, and local law enforcement work assiduously to get to the bottom of what happened as quickly as possible and to ensure that there is no remaining threat of any kind.

I will continue to receive updates throughout the day, and I will have more to say as we have further information to share. In the meantime, my heart goes out to the victims and their families who were simply trying to celebrate the holiday.

There is no justification for violence of any kind, and we will not tolerate any attack on any of our nation’s communities.”

President-elect Donald Trump: ‘Crime rate in our country is at a level nobody has seen before’

16:10 , Rhian Lubin

President-elect Donald Trump has responded to the attack in a post on Truth Social:

When I said that the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country, that statement was constantly refuted by Democrats and the Fake News Media, but it turned out to be true.

The crime rate in our country is at a level that nobody has ever seen before. Our hearts are with all of the innocent victims and their loved ones, including the brave officers of the New Orleans Police Department.

The Trump Administration will fully support the City of New Orleans as they investigate and recover from this act of pure evil!

Witness describes scenes of ‘absolute chaos’

16:00 , Rhian Lubin

A witness has described scenes of “absolute chaos” in the early hours of this morning as revelers were celebrating the new year.

Alex Birth-Mitchell told CNN he “visited several clubs, then walked up and down the street and had just gotten to this club when the truck came through plowing everyone down.”

He said that he feels lucky to be alive as he had just gained entry to a nightclub and was indoors when the attack took place.

“If we would have been waiting outside, we would be dead maybe,” he told the broadcaster.

Pictures from the scene

15:45 , Rhian Lubin

Ten dead after car plows into crowd at New Orleans New Year’s Day attack

15:30 , Kelly Rissman

Ten people are dead after a car slammed into a crowd in New Orleans’ popular Bourbon Street during New Year’s Day celebrations.

In a press conference on Wednesday morning, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the incident as a “terrorist attack,” urging residents to stay away from the area as it was still an active scene. The FBI, however, said it was not clear that it was a terrorist event but that an improvised explosive device was found with the suspect.

A federal law enforcement official told NBC News that the suspect appeared to be dead. The identity of the assailant and his possible motive remains unclear.

New Orleans Superintendent of Police Anne Kirkpatrick said that the perpetrator exhibited “very intentional behavior” by slamming into the crowd and that it was not a DUI, adding that the man shot at police officers after he crashed his vehicle, leaving two officers injured. Both officers that were shot are stable, according to Kirkpatrick.

Read the full story.

FBI investigating ‘act of terrorism’ as 10 dead in New Orleans after vehicle attack

New Orleans Council Member calls attack ‘horrific and evil’

15:20 , Kelly Rissman

“My prayers go out to the victims and their families,” New Orleans Council Member Oliver Thomas told WWL. He called the attack “horrific and evil.”

“No one deserves to experience this level of evil that was carried out by a very sick person,” he said. Thomas said he’s not sure about the lingering threat to the community, as hundreds of thousands are visiting the city for the Sugar Bowl and New Year’s celebrations.

Thomas was visiting a local hospital, where a number of victims are being treated for their injuries.

Two officers are in stable condition after engaging with the suspect, police said.

Thomas said: “There may have been up to four officers that were involved in neutralizing the event.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson reacts to the ‘vicious attack’

15:10 , Kelly Rissman

“The vicious attack on innocent people celebrating the New Year in New Orleans early this morning was an act of pure evil, and justice must be swift for anyone who was involved,” the Louisiana Congressman said in a post on X. “Please join us in praying for the victims, their families, and the first responders and investigators.”

AllState Sugar Bowl CEO reacts to tragedy

15:00 , Kelly Rissman

“The Sugar Bowl Committee is devastated by the terrible events from early this morning,” Jeff Hundley told The Independent in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. We are in ongoing discussions with authorities on the local, state, and federal levels and will communicate further details as they become available.”

In photos: New Orleans reels after vehicle slammed into Bourbon Street crowd just hours into the new year

14:50 , Kelly Rissman

Suspect allegedly ‘had an accomplice,’ New Orleans City Council member says

14:40 , Kelly Rissman

New Orleans City Council member Freddie King III told WWL that he understood that the driver “had an accomplice.” This claim has not been confirmed by law enforcement.

The Independent has asked the FBI, which is now leading this investigation, for more information.

The agency confirmed that the suspect drove a car into a crowd on Bourbon Street, then “engaged with local law enforcement” and is now deceased.

Two officers who were struck are in stable condition.

FBI confirms suspected driver is dead

14:35 , Kelly Rissman

This morning, an individual drove a car into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing a number of people and injuring dozens of others. The subject then engaged with local law enforcement and is now deceased. The FBI is the lead investigative agency, and we are working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism.

What has law enforcement said?

14:30 , Kelly Rissman

New Orleans Superintendent of Police Anne Kirkpatrick said that the perpetrator exhibited “very intentional behavior” by slamming into the crowd and that it was not a DUI, adding that the man shot at police officers after he crashed his vehicle, leaving two officers injured. Both officers that were shot are stable, according to Kirkpatrick.

“Last night, we had over 300 officers out here, and because of the intentional mindset of this perpetrator – who went around our barricades in order to conduct this. He was hellbent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did,” Kirkpatrick added. She added that most of the casualties appeared to be local residents of the city and not tourists. “This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could.”

Read the full story.

Ten dead after car plows into crowd at New Orleans New Year’s Day attack

Elected officials condemn ‘brutal’ attack

14:20 , Kelly Rissman

“Many of us woke up this morning to devastating news of the brutal intentional slaughter of innocent people celebrating the New Year in New Orleans,” Liz Murrill, the state’s attorney general, wrote in a post on X on Wednesday morning.

“I’m praying for the victims and their families and will ensure they get justice for this appalling act. Please avoid the immediate area at this time and listen to the law enforcement officers who are still on the scene,” she added.

Sen. Bill Cassidy wrote on X.: “So tragic. Give thanks for the police officers responding. Remember the wounded and dead and their families.”

What happened?

14:10 , Kelly Rissman

The suspect, who has not been identified, exhibited “very intentional behavior” when he plowed into a crowd on Canal and Bourbon Street around 3 a.m. Wednesday morning, just hours into the new year, New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said at a press conference. “This man was trying to run over as many people as he could,” she said.

After crashing his vehicle, the suspect fired off his weapon at police officers, striking two. Both officers are in stable condition and are receiving medical treatment, Kirkpatrick said.

As of Wednesday morning’s press conference, 10 people have died and more than 30 were injured. Most of the wounded individuals were taken to University Medical Center, while others were sent to Touro Hospital, East Jefferson General Hospital, Ochsner Medical Center Jefferson Campus, or Ochsner Baptist Campus, police said.

Most victims appeared to be locals, not tourists, police said.

“He was hellbent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did,” Kirkpatrick added.

An improvised explosive device was found at the scene, according to the FBI, which has taken over the case.

“There were improvised explosive devices that was found, and we are working on confirming if it’s a viable device or not,” Assistant Special Agent Alethea Duncan said at the press conference.

While New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the mass killing as a “terrorist attack,” the FBI said it wasn’t a terrorist event.

The mayor also said she had been in contact with the White House.

Early on Wednesday, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry condemned the attack in a post on X: “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.”

Both the governor and the FBI have urged locals to avoid Bourbon Street.

WATCH: Officials confirm ten dead and dozens injured after SUV crash

14:00 , Kelly Rissman

President Joe Biden has been briefed, White House says

13:52 , Kelly Rissman

“President Biden has been briefed on the horrific news that a driver killed and injured dozens of individuals in New Orleans overnight and the White House has been in touch with New Orleans Mayor Cantrell to offer support,” the White House said in a statement.

“The FBI is already on the ground supporting local law enforcement in the investigation and the President will continue to be briefed throughout the day.”

Everything we know about the driver who plowed into crowd killing 10

13:36 , Joe Middleton

A New Year’s celebration in New Orleans was tragically interrupted when a car slammed into a crowd of revelers, killing 10 and injuring dozens more.

The incident occurred around 3 a.m. on Bourbon Street when a suspect drove into people, New Orleans police said at a Wednesday morning press conference.

More than 30 others were injured in the attack and have been transported to hospitals. Authorities have urged locals to steer clear of Bourbon Street as an investigation continues.

Here’s everything we know about the tragedy and the driver:

New Orleans mass killing: Everything we know about the driver who plowed into crowd

Driver ‘dead’ after ramming car into crowd killing 10 on Bourbon Street

13:29 , Joe Middleton

A federal law enforcement official has told NBC News that the suspected driver who killed at least 10 people and injured dozens of others is believe to be dead.

The police and FBI did not give a status update on the suspect at the press conference this morning, but did say that the perpetrator shot and injured two police officers.

The identity and motives of suspect remain unknown. The FBI has taken over investigation of the violent incident that took place in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Pictured: scene on Wednesday morning in New Orleans

13:20 , Joe Middleton

‘This is not a terrorist event’, say FBI

12:57 , Joe Middleton

The FBI has taken over the investigation in New Orleans and said it is not a terrorist attack.

Special agent Althea Duncan said that “improvised explosive devices” were found at the scene and the public should stay away from the area.

She added: “This is not a terrorist event.”

Two officers shot by perpetrator

12:53 , Joe Middleton

Two police officers were shot by the attacker and are receiving treatment in hospital, Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick has told a press conference.

She said the attacker fired on officers after he crashed his vehicle. Both officers are both stable and receiving medical treatment.

Superintendent Kirkpatrick said the perpetrator was “hellbent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.”

New Orleans mayor urges residents to avoid the area

12:48 , Joe Middleton

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell says the exact details of the incident are under investigation and that she has been in direct contact with the White House.

At a press conference she asked “for prayers for those who have lost their lives”, and urged the public to avoid the eight blocks around Bourbon Street, saying a “unified command is in place”.

Violent incident occurs hours before Sugar Bowl

12:37 , Joe Middleton

The incident came toward the end of New Year’s celebrations in New Orleans and hours before the kickoff of the AllState Bowl, a college football quarterfinal held in the city’s Caesars Superdome, with thousands expected to be in attendance.

This year game features the University of Georgia and the University of Notre Dame.

30 injured in incident sent to 5 hospitals across the area

12:30 , Joe Middleton

The 30 people injured when a driver hit a crowd on Bourbon Street have been sent to the following hospitals, according to the city’s disaster preparedness campaign, NOLA Ready:

• University Medical Center

• Touro Hospital

• East Jefferson General Hospital

• Ochsner Medical Center Jefferson Campus

• Ochsner Baptist Campus

Louisiana governor condemns ‘horrific act of violence’ on Bourbon Street

12:21 , Joe Middleton

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has urged people to avoid the area and said both him and his wife are “praying for all the victims” on the scene.

In a post on X, he 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. I urge all near the scene to avoid the area.”

Emergency preparedness department tells people to avoid the area

12:16 , Joe Middleton

The city of New Orleans emergency preparedness campaign (NOLA Ready) has warned people to stay away from Bourbon Street and Canal after the incident.

“There has been a mass casualty incident on Canal and Bourbon Street. Get yourself away from the area,” Nola Ready says in a post on X.

Driver ‘got out and opened fire’ witness claims

12:06 , Sam Rkaina

A witness has claimed that the driver of the vehicle got out of the vehicle and started firing a weapon after the crash, CBS News reports.

Police officers are said to have returned fire, though New Orleans Police Department has yet to confirm this.

A reporter at the scene described seeing multiple victims lying injured on the ground at the intersection of Canal Street and Bourbon Street.

Police at scene of New Orleans fatal crash after reports of car driving into crowd

12:02 , Sam Rkaina

Ten dead and 30 injured

11:50 , Sam Rkaina

Ten people have been killed and 30 injured after a car reportedly plowed into a group of people in New Orleans’ Bourbon Street in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Witness accounts recalled a truck crashing into a crowd at high speed before the driver got out and started firing a weapon, with police returning fire, CBS reported.

Nola Ready, the department responsible for emergency preparedness in New Orleans, said responders were attending a “mass casualty incident involving a vehicle that drove into a large crowd on Canal and Bourbon Street”. It confirmed the casualty toll.

Footage circulating online, which appears to show the aftermath of the incident, shows multiple lying on the floor as people run from the area.