Latest:
- Truck driver in New Orleans attack acted alone, says FBI.
- The group says it is an act of terrorism inspired by the Islamic State group, or ISIS.
- There is no “definite” link between the Bourbon Street attack and the deadly Las Vegas blast.
- Authorities did not assess a “credible threat” to New Orleans ahead of the New Year's Day attack.
The FBI now says the pickup truck driver responsible for a deadly rampage on Bourbon Street in New Orleans was acting alone.
A man in a rented truck plowed into a New Year's Day crowd in the city early Wednesday, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more.
Officials initially said they were looking for additional suspects in the attack, which is being investigated as an act of terrorism.
But Christopher Raia, deputy director of the FBI's counter-terrorism division, said on Thursday that the evidence now shows that Shamsud-Din Jabbar was solely responsible for the attack and that he was loyal exposed to ISIS, an Islamic militant group.
“We are confident at this stage that there are no sponsors,” Citizens to reporters.
Guns and pipe bombs were found in the suspect's vehicle, according to a Louisiana State Police news release obtained by The Associated Press. The devices were hidden inside refrigerators and wire for a remote-controlled explosive device was also found in the car, the magazine said.
“Many of the early reports came out that there were extra people setting up the refrigerators,” Citizens said. “These became members of the public who simply picked up refrigerators that were already installed.”
“We didn't know that at first, so we had to find that and put that to rest.”
Jabbar was killed after the ramming attack during a firefight
“I can tell you right now that it is 100 percent inspired by ISIS,” Raia said, adding that investigators are digging through his social media to “find out more about that connection.” .
On Wednesday, the FBI said it had recovered an ISIS flag, which is black with white lettering, from the vehicle used in the attack.
Officials had initially put the death toll at 15, but the FBI clarified Thursday that the total number of deaths included Jabbar.
Raia also spoke about Wednesday's explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside US president Donald Trump's hotel in Las Vegas, which killed a man inside the vehicle. This incident sparked an intense investigation into possible terrorism related to the New Orleans attack.
“At this point, there is no definitive link between the attack here in New Orleans and the attack in Las Vegas,” he said.
The Cybertruck was loaded with fireworks mortars and canisters of camp fuel. The person who died in the explosion was an active-duty U.S. military soldier, three U.S. officials told The Associated Press on Thursday. Law enforcement officials identified the man inside the future pickup truck as Matthew Livelsberger, who is believed to be living in Colorado.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, speaking at the same press conference as Raia, said Bourbon Street will be reopened before the Sugar Bowl football game, which is now scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. local Thursday.
Authorities did not assess a “credible threat” from the events on Bourbon Street early Wednesday, according to a combined Louisiana and New Orleans police threat assessment obtained by Reuters.
The document is dated December 2024 and notes that there was no credible threat from international terrorists, domestic violent extremists or domestic violent extremists.
