New Orleans Truck Attack: Suspect Hints On ‘Desire To Kill’ – Biden
- 15 persons dead, 30 others injured – Officials
- FBI investigates attack as ‘act of terrorism’
United States President, Joe Biden says the FBI found that “mere hours before the attack” in New Orleans, the suspect “posted videos on social media indicating that he was inspired by ISIS, expressing a desire to kill”.ISIS, which stands for “Islamic State of Iraq and Syria”, is a Salafi-jihadist group that has conducted and inspired terrorist attacks worldwide, resulting in thousands killed or injured
In a brief speech on the attack that left at least 15 people dead, President Biden said the investigation was still in the preliminary stage and that the situation was “fluid”.
“The law enforcement intelligence community continues to look for connections, associations, or co-conspirators,” he said.
He said law enforcement was also investigating the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside Donald Trump’s hotel in Las Vegas and whether there was “any possible connection with the attack in New Orleans”.
Saying there was nothing yet to report on those inquiries officially, the President added; “New Orleans is a place unlike any other place in the world, a city full of charm and joy. So many people around the world love New Orleans because of its history, its culture, and above all its people.
“I know that while this person committed a terrible assault on this city, the spirit of New Orleans will never, never be defeated.” Biden did not take questions.
As of the last count, Police reports indicated that not less than 15 people were killed and 30 others injured in New Orleans when a person intentionally drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street during New Year’s celebrations.
Identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen born in Texas, the driver was reported to have flown an ISIS flag on the back of his truck.
The FBI said it does not believe Jabbar was “solely responsible” for the attack and asked the public for assistance.
It also added that there is an ongoing investigation into Jabbar’s “potential associations and affiliations” with terroristic organizations.
A potential improvised explosive device was in the truck, and other potential IEDs were discovered in the French Quarter, the FBI said.
