January 1st 2025.
In the early hours of New Year's Day, a driver caused chaos in the famous French Quarter of New Orleans. He deliberately avoided a police blockade and drove a pickup truck into a crowd, resulting in the tragic death of 10 people. The incident occurred at around 3:15 am and turned the usually vibrant Bourbon Street into a scene of horror and devastation. Over 30 people were also injured, prompting the postponement of a highly anticipated college football playoff game that was expected to draw a large crowd.
According to authorities, the FBI is currently investigating the attack as an act of terrorism. In fact, an Islamic State group flag was found attached to the truck's trailer hitch. The vehicle also contained guns and pipe bombs, which were wired for remote detonation. Fortunately, these devices were discovered before any harm could be done. The FBI also revealed that surveillance footage captured three men and a woman placing one of the bombs in the French Quarter.
New Orleans Police Superintendent, Anne Kirkpatrick, expressed her outrage over the attack, stating that it was not just an act of terrorism, but pure evil. She also revealed that the driver had intentionally "defeated" safety measures that were put in place to protect pedestrians. The driver's actions showed that he was determined to cause destruction and harm.
The FBI has identified the driver as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen and Army veteran from Texas. They are currently investigating his potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations. However, they believe that he did not act alone. Alethea Duncan, an assistant special agent in charge of the FBI's New Orleans field office, stated that they do not believe Jabbar was solely responsible for the attack.
Jabbar's rampage began when he drove onto a sidewalk, bypassing a police car that was meant to block vehicular traffic. The car was positioned to protect people celebrating on Bourbon Street. Unfortunately, the barrier system that was designed to prevent such attacks was undergoing repairs, as the city was preparing to host the Super Bowl in February. Jabbar was eventually killed by police after he exited the vehicle and began firing at them. Three officers returned fire, and two were injured but are now in stable condition.
Derick Fleming, the chief bellhop at a downtown hotel, described the chaos that ensued after the attack. He mentioned seeing bodies on the ground and police searching for bombs in garbage cans. The Sugar Bowl college football playoff quarterfinal between Georgia and Notre Dame, which was supposed to take place on Wednesday night, was postponed to Thursday due to the attack. The University of Georgia President, Jere Morehead, revealed that a student was critically injured and is currently receiving medical treatment.
One witness, Zion Parsons, recounted his terrifying experience when the truck came barreling towards him and his friends as they were leaving a restaurant. He managed to dodge the vehicle, but his friend was not so lucky. Parsons described the gruesome scene of his friend's twisted and bloody leg. He also mentioned hearing gunshots and immediately running for safety.
The aftermath of the attack was evident as several coroner's office vans were parked on the corner of Bourbon and Canal streets. Tourists stood in shock as they tried to navigate their way through the police tape and blockades. Tessa Cundiff, a resident of the French Quarter, stated that the scene was eerie and not what she fell in love with when she moved there a few years ago.
Despite the tragedy, life went on as usual in the city known for its motto "let the good times roll." People were still talking about the attack, while others dressed in Georgia gear talked about football. At a nearby café, people crowded in for breakfast, and upbeat music played. It seemed as though nothing had happened just a few blocks away, where people were drinking at a bar.
Louisiana Governor, Jeff Landry, urged people to avoid the French Quarter while the investigation was ongoing. He reassured the community that their safety was a top priority. President Joe Biden also expressed his remorse over the attack, stating that there was no justification for violence of any kind. He promised to take action once more information about the incident was revealed.
This attack is another example of a vehicle being used as a weapon to carry out mass violence, a trend that has been a cause for concern among law enforcement officials. If confirmed as an IS-inspired attack, it would be the deadliest on U.S. soil in years. The FBI has been successful in disrupting other potential attacks by the militant group in the past year. Nevertheless, the elevated international terrorism threat remains a cause for concern, especially after the recent Israel-Hamas war.
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