NEW ORLEANS, La. (KPEL News) - The FBI field office in New Orleans has released a statement on the suspect in the Bourbon Street attack, which they are confirming is being investigated as an act of terrorism.

Here is the full press release:

Today, at approximately 3:15am CST an individual drove a pickup truck into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing at least 10 and injuring dozens of others. After hitting the crowd, he exited the vehicle and fired upon local law enforcement. Law enforcement returned fire and the subject was pronounced deceased at the scene. Two law enforcement officers were injured and transported to a local hospital.
The subject has been identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas. He was driving a Ford pickup truck, which appears to have been rented and we are working to confirm how the subject came into possession of the vehicle.
An ISIS flag was located in the vehicle and the FBI is working to determine the subject's potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations.
Weapons and a potential IED were located in the subject’s vehicle. Other potential IEDs were also located in the French Quarter. The FBI’s Special Agent Bomb Technicians are working with our law enforcement partners to determine if any of these devices are viable and they will work to render those devices safe.
The FBI is the lead investigative agency, and we are working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism. We are aggressively running down all leads to identify any possible associates of the subject.
The FBI has set up a digital tip line and we ask anyone with information or video of the incident to submit them to www.fbi.gov/bourbonstreetattack or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

 


ORIGINAL STORY

The man accused of driving a truck through a crowded New Year's Eve event in New Orleans has been identified, per local media reports.

According to reports, Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42, was identified by law enforcement sources.

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The source told NOLA.com that the suspect was carrying an ISIS flag during the attack.

Another report indicates Din Jabbar may have served in the U.S. military at one point.

Earlier Wednesday morning, New Orleans City Council President Helena Moreno stated that the suspect in the event, which the FBI is investigating as a terrorist attack, was in full military gear and was not a local resident.


READ MORE: Driver ‘hell-bent on carnage’ kills 10, injures 30 on New Year’s Day in New Orleans


“He was hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did,” Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick said, noting that police officers were working to ensure safety at the Sugar Bowl, indicating that the game would go on Wednesday evening as scheduled.

Din Jabbar is said to have crashed the truck he was driving through the crowd and into other vehicles, before exiting the truck and firing on police. He is believed to have been killed by officer fire during the scene.

The truck crossed into the United States over the Mexico border on November 16, according to Fox News.

"The identification of driver that crossed border does not appear to be the shooter," a Fox Digital reporter noted. "The truck changed hands at some point."

ABC News reported that the truck belonged to Rodrigo Diaz, who rented it to Din Jabbar via the Turo app.

"My husband rents cars through the Turo app. I can’t tell you anything else. I’m here with my kids, and this is devastating," his wife, Dora Diaz, told ABC.

The investigation, which now includes federal agencies, is ongoing.


 

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