- FBI identified Shamsud-Din Jabbar as the suspect in New Orleans truck attack.
- Jabbar, now deceased, was a US citizen from Texas and had a criminal record.
- At least 10 people are confirmed dead, and dozens more were injured.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has identified the suspect in Wednesday’s deadly attack in New Orleans as Shamsud-Din Jabbar.
The agency said Jabbar, who was confirmed dead after a shootout with police, was a 42-year-old US citizen from Texas, and his actions are being investigated as a terrorist attack.
At least 10 people are confirmed dead, and dozens more were injured, after the suspect drove the truck into crowds on Bourbon Street at about 3:15 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Two police officers were shot but are in stable condition.
The FBI said an ISIS flag, as well as weapons and a “potential” improvised explosive device, were found in the Ford F-150 pick-up truck Jabbar used.
It added other IEDs were found in the French Quarter, and the agency is investigating Jabbar’s potential connection to any terrorist organizations.
Jabbar’s criminal record, obtained from the Texas Department of Public Safety and viewed by Business Insider, shows two prior arrests in 2002 and 2005.
The first was for theft, while the other was for driving with an invalid license. Both were classified as misdemeanors.
FBI Assistant Special Agent Alethea Duncan said in a press conference that the FBI does not believe Jabbar acted alone. She did not specify how many additional suspects the agency is investigating.
“We are aggressively running down every lead, including those of his known associates,” Duncan said. “We’re asking anyone who has information, video, or pictures to provide it to the FBI.”
She later added that Jabbar was an Army veteran, and the FBI believes he was honorably discharged.
Turo, a carsharing company, confirmed to BI that Jabbar used a truck rented through its app to carry out the attack and that it is “actively partnering with the FBI.”
“We are not currently aware of anything in this guest’s background that would have identified him as a trust and safety threat to us at the time of the reservation,” a Turo spokesperson said.
The attack comes ahead of three major events in New Orleans, including the college football Sugar Bowl game, which was scheduled for January 1 but officials said has been postponed 24 hours.
The city also has its annual Mardi Gras festivities starting on January 6 and the 59th Super Bowl scheduled for February 9.
