British National Among 14 Victims in New Orleans Attack | US News
A British man is among 14 individuals who lost their lives when a suspected supporter of the Islamic State crashed a truck into crowds celebrating the New Year in New Orleans.
The preliminary cause of death for the British victim was identified as blunt force trauma, as stated by the city’s coroner.
Their name is being withheld temporarily following the family’s request for privacy “pending finalisation of international arrangements”.
Additionally, numerous people sustained injuries when 42-year-old army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar plowed his rented truck through revelers on Bourbon Street early on New Year’s Day.
A senior official from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has described the incident as a “premeditated” and “evil” act of terrorism, asserting that Jabbar was “100% inspired by ISIS”, also known as the Islamic State.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office informed Sky News: “We are offering support to the family of a British national who has died in New Orleans and are in touch with local authorities.”
The coroner has also confirmed the identities of most victims of the incident.
The victims are:
- Andrew Dauphin, 26, from Montgomery, Alabama
- Kareem Badawi, 23, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Brandon Taylor, 43, from Harvey, Louisiana
- Hubert Gauthreaux, 21, from Gretna, Louisiana
- Matthew Tenedorio, 25, from Picayune, Mississippi
- Nikyra Dedeaux, 18, from Gulfport, Mississippi
- Nicole Perez, 27, from Metairie, Louisiana
- Reggie Hunter, 37, from Prairieville, Louisiana
- Martin Bech, 27, from New York City, New York
- Terrence Kennedy, 63, from New Orleans, Louisiana
- Elliot Wilkinson, 40, from Slidell, Louisiana
- William Dimaio, 25, from Holmdel, New Jersey
The identity of one additional victim remains unknown, and efforts to identify them are ongoing.
The preliminary cause of death for all victims has been determined as blunt force injuries, according to the New Orleans coroner.
The FBI has disclosed that prior to the assault, Jabbar attempted to eliminate evidence by setting fire to a house he had rented.
He reportedly distributed accelerants throughout the residence in an attempt to obliterate it, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms.
However, the fire, which began in the hallway, extinguished itself before it could spread to other areas.
This breaking news story is continuously being updated and more details are forthcoming.
Please refresh the page for the most comprehensive version.
For breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet, download the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay updated with the latest news.
