Authorities are still investigating “people of interest” related to the terrorist attack in New Orleans on New Years Day, in which a Texas-born U.S. citizen drove a truck adorned with an ISIS flag through a crowd of people.
“We have people of interest. They are not people who are suspects at this time,” New Orleans Police Department superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick told NBC News on Thursday, adding that the FBI is “tracking down everybody.” Louisiana attorney general Liz Murrill told Fox News that authorities have evidence that Jabbar acted with others, though she did not elaborate.
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, drove a rented Ford pickup truck through hordes of people on Wednesday in the French Quarter of New Orleans, killing at least 15, and injuring more than 30. Jabbar then fired at two officers before authorities shot and killed him. Two possible improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered nearby. Weapons, along with one additional IED, were found in Jabbar’s rented vehicle.
The suspect, who attempted to “run over as many people as he possibly could,” Kirkpatrick said, likely had accomplices. FBI special agent Alethea Duncan said on Wednesday that the agency does not believe Jabbar to be “solely responsible” for the terrorist attack. In remarks he made on Wednesday, President Joe Biden said that Jabbar posted videos to social media “indicating that he was inspired by ISIS.”
New Orleans is beginning to reopen after its hub was blocked off as an active crime scene, and city officials are implementing further safety measures for Thursday’s Sugar Bowl, the college football game between Georgia and Notre Dame which was postponed for 24 hours following the attack.
“We are going to have absolutely hundreds of officers and staff lining our streets,” Kirkpatrick said.
AG Murrill said on Wednesday night that the Sugar Bowl should be further delayed, at least for one more day. “Not my decision, but I would like to see it delayed at least another day. If they asked my opinion, I would tell them that,” she said. The city is also set to host the Super Bowl on February 9.
Jabbar had more than a decade of experience serving in the military and had a couple of failed attempts at real estate before he served in a staff-level role at the consultancy firm Deloitte. Deloitte managing director Jonathan Gandal said in a statement that “we are shocked to learn of reports . . . that the individual identified as a suspect had any association with our firm . . . Like everyone, we are outraged by this shameful and senseless act of violence and are doing all we can to assist authorities in their investigation.”
Some family members have identified victims of the attack, though authorities have not yet released the names of all the victims. Tiger Bech, 27, a former Princeton University football player and Louisiana native, was killed while walking back to his hotel with his best friend. Reggie Hunter, 37, a father of two, was celebrating New Years on Bourbon Street with his cousin when he was struck by Jabbar. Kareem Badawi, a student at the University of Alabama, was also killed in the attack.
Two Mexican citizens and two Israeli citizens were injured in the attack, according to the country’s respective foreign affairs offices.