Ten dead in attack

Perpetrator of New Orleans attack had IS flag with him

(Bild: AFP/Matthew Hinton)

According to the US media, the perpetrator of the attack in New Orleans was carrying an IS flag. The FBI had previously spoken of terrorism. At least ten people were killed and more than 35 others were injured when the car drove into a crowd on Wednesday night (see video above).

On Wednesday evening, it finally became known that the perpetrator was carrying a flag of the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS). Two investigators confirmed this to CNN. In addition, there were several homemade objects in a cooler on the back of the pick-up that could have been explosive. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had previously spoken of an act of terrorism.

A debate has broken out in the USA about the lack of protective devices, among other things, and a picture of the suspect has since been published:

Shamsud-Din Jabbar (42)
In the meantime, further details about the man who killed at least ten people in his pick-up truck on New Year's Eve have also emerged. According to investigators, Shamsud-Din Jabbar is 42 years old and was wearing military clothing at the time of the crime. The FBI confirmed the man's death a few hours after the incident. There had been an exchange of gunfire between him and the emergency services, it said. The perpetrator himself shot at passers-by from the car.

A large rescue team was deployed.

(Bild: AFP/Matthew Hinton)

Major event to take place
The man had tried to "run over as many people as possible", said police chief Anne Kirkpatrick. "We were in the middle of the street and were able to run onto the sidewalk and hide in the entrance of a building. We heard gunshots and saw police running," said eyewitness Jim Mowrer. When no more shots were heard, he left his hiding place. He saw injured and dead people on the street. 

The attack occurred at 3.15 a.m. (local time, 10.15 a.m. CET). There were many New Year's Eve parties in the affected French Quarter nightlife district, including LGBTQ parties and a travesty show. The Sugar Bowl, a football game for which many fans traveled to the city, was also scheduled to take place in New Orleans on New Year's Day. This was also scheduled to take place as planned.