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New Orleans attack suspect 'hell-bent' on causing carnage, police say New Orleans attacker did not act alone, FBI believes
(about 4 hours later)
A pickup truck drove "very fast" at people on the street, according to police The suspect in the New Orleans attack that killed 15 people on New Year's Day did not act alone, US investigators believe.
The suspect in the New Orleans attack that killed 10 people on New Year's Day has been named as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar. Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old US citizen, is believed to have driven a pickup truck into a crowd on a busy New Orleans street, before exiting the vehicle and firing a weapon. He was shot dead by police at the scene.
At least 35 others were injured after the suspect intentionally drove a truck into a crowd and fired a weapon, police have said. The FBI says an Islamic State group flag was found inside the vehicle he was driving, while two improvised explosive devices were found nearby.
Earlier, New Orleans police chief Anne Kirkpatrick said the man drove a pickup truck along Bourbon Street "very fast... trying to run over as many people as he could" at around 03:15 (09:15 GMT). He crashed, then shot and injured two police officers. FBI assistant special agent Alethea Duncan said the agency did not believe Jabbar was "solely responsible" and were investigating the incident as an "act of terrorism".
The FBI said in a statement it is "working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism". The suspect is dead, the agency added. Live updates: Suspect in New Orleans attack that killed 10 is dead and FBI investigating as 'act of terrorism'
Watch: New Orleans police brief media on Bourbon Street attack What we know about the New Orleans attack
Kirkpatrick said the man was "hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did". The death toll stood at 10 for most of Wednesday, but New Orleans Coroner Dr Dwight McKenna confirmed by the evening that it had risen to 15.
The attack took place in New Orleans' French Quarter - a bustling nightspot popular with locals and tourists. He said it would take several days to perform all of autopsies, after which the identities of the victims would be released.
Whit Davis, from Shreveport, Louisiana, was in a bar with friends when "people started running and getting under tables like it was an active shooter drill". Dozens of others were injured during the attack, which took place in New Orleans' French Quarter - a bustling nightspot popular with locals and tourists - at around 03:15 (08:15 GMT).
"Everyone was just completely in shock," he added. "This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could", New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said.
"I visit New Orleans frequently and have never seen anything close to this bad." Watch: FBI gives update on New Orleans attacker
A long gun with a "suppressive device" on it - acting as a silencer - was also recovered from the scene, and the pick-up truck he was driving is believed to have been rented in Texas via an app.
Jabbar was born in Texas and previously served in the US Army.
According to a now-removed LinkedIn profile, he had worked in various roles in the US Army, including in human resources and IT, before he was discharged.
He studied at George State University from 2015 to 2017, graduating with a degree in Computer Information Systems.
He also appears to have worked in real estate, holding a license that expired in 2021. He had a criminal record, relating to traffic offences and theft.
Witnesses who had been in New Orleans' French Quarter for new year celebrations have spoken of the carnage they witnessed.
Whit Davis, from Shreveport, Louisiana, was in a bar with friends on Bourbon Street when the attack took place.
"People started running and getting under tables like it was an active shooter drill," he told the BBC. "...Everyone was just completely in shock,."
Jim and Nicole Mowrer, who were visiting New Orleans from Iowa, told CBS News, the BBC's US news partner, that they witnessed the truck drive through a barricade at speed then heard gunshots and crashing noises.Jim and Nicole Mowrer, who were visiting New Orleans from Iowa, told CBS News, the BBC's US news partner, that they witnessed the truck drive through a barricade at speed then heard gunshots and crashing noises.
They tried to help people they thought were wounded but realised the victims had died.They tried to help people they thought were wounded but realised the victims had died.
The wrecked white pickup truck could be seen surrounded by police on Wednesday morning
A hotel worker told CBS he had been closing down for the evening when he looked out the window and noticed "there was a lot of bodies lying on the ground".A hotel worker told CBS he had been closing down for the evening when he looked out the window and noticed "there was a lot of bodies lying on the ground".
"The truck was speeding away. I immediately ran downstairs to see if there were some people I can help out and unfortunately some people did perish during that event.""The truck was speeding away. I immediately ran downstairs to see if there were some people I can help out and unfortunately some people did perish during that event."
"The scene was just horrific," he added."The scene was just horrific," he added.
Live updates: Suspect in New Orleans attack that killed 10 is dead and FBI investigating as 'act of terrorism' US President Joe Biden said his reaction to the attack was one of "anger and frustration".
What we know about the New Orleans attack
FBI Special Agent Althea Duncan, who is leading the investigation, said an improvised explosive device was also found at the scene and they were working on confirming whether it was "viable".
The suspect was wearing body armour at the time of the attack and a long gun was recovered from the scene, CBS reported, citing sources familiar with the investigation.
Law enforcement officials later told CBS that they are investigating whether the suspect was connected to or inspired by a foreign terror organisation.
They said they are exploring whether a black flag which appeared to be attached to the rear bumper of the pick-up truck during the attack could be an Islamic State (IS) group flag - or potentially tied to another foreign terror organisation.
US President Joe Biden told journalists his reaction is one of "anger and frustration".
The White House said Mr Biden had called the city's mayor this morning to offer "full federal support".The White House said Mr Biden had called the city's mayor this morning to offer "full federal support".
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said in a post on X that he was "praying for all the victims and first responders on scene".Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said in a post on X that he was "praying for all the victims and first responders on scene".
"A horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street earlier this morning," Landry wrote."A horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street earlier this morning," Landry wrote.
The Sugar Bowl, a much-anticipated college football match between Notre Dame and the University of Georgia, has been postponed until Thursday as a result of the attack.
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