New Orleans Incident: Latest Updates on Car Plowing into Crowd in the French Quarter | US News

In New Orleans, ten individuals lost their lives and over 35 were injured when a pickup truck crashed into a crowd celebrating the New Year.

The FBI has announced that it is treating the event as an “act of terrorism”.

The driver, identified by NBC News and Sky News’ US partner as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, died in a shootout with police.

Here’s what we know to date:

The deadly incident and driver’s death

This tragic event unfolded around 3:15 am at the intersection of Canal Street and Bourbon Street in the bustling French Quarter, where New Year celebrations for 2025 were still in full swing.

According to Anne Kirkpatrick, superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), the male driver of the pickup aggressively accelerated through the crowd, circumvented barricades, and discharged a weapon after colliding with the pedestrians in a white Ford F-150 Lightning.

Superintendent Kirkpatrick stated, “His actions were calculated. This man aimed to run down as many individuals as he could. It wasn’t a case of DUI.”

“He was determined to inflict as much destruction and harm as possible.”

New Orleans updates: Follow live updates

According to reports, two police officers were shot during the incident but are currently in a “stable condition”.

The shooter was killed in the exchange of gunfire with law enforcement, who confirmed this later on Wednesday.

Superintendent Kirkpatrick also mentioned that the police force has mobilized all available officers for the ongoing inquiry.

Eyewitness accounts from the gruesome attack

Warning: The following descriptions are distressing and graphic.

Witness Jimmy Cothran recounted hearing gunfire and a “great deal of commotion” in the vicinity, prompting him to take refuge in a nightclub.

“In just a couple of minutes, a frantic group of women burst inside, forced past security, and sought shelter under tables,” he shared with NBC News. “Our immediate assumption was that someone was shooting or pursuing them.”

He climbed to the balcony, witnessing bodies that were disfigured and individuals who were “clearly deceased.”

Mr. Cothran described the horrific scene as “unbelievable”, noting that one victim bore tire marks on their body.

The nightclub was secured, with him stating, “They locked us inside. Though I’ve received training, they just immediately locked us in.”

Eventually, attendees began tending to the bodies, he noted.

He asserted that the pickup truck sped past at an estimated 70mph, with only “weak” barricades in place on Bourbon Street to deter it.

Within “a maximum of two minutes”, he claimed the driver had already “vanished”, while officers pursued him by foot.

Discovery of an improvised explosive device at the scene

Authorities are also examining the presence of at least one suspected improvised explosive device at the site.

Investigators are trying to ascertain if the assailant wielded a long-gun rifle and fired it at the crowd while running people down, according to three senior officials speaking to NBC.

The vehicle involved in the incident is a critical point of focus for federal investigators, who are using the license plate to gather more details about the driver and the events that transpired.

A white stick or pipe wrapped in black cloth was found on the rear of the vehicle, according to officials.

Investigators are working to determine if the cloth signifies a flag or bears markings.

Identifying the attacker

The motive behind the attack is still uncertain.

The driver has been named as Din Jabbar. Investigators are gathering details regarding his history and possible travel records, as reported by NBC.

US president-elect Donald Trump suggested earlier that the attacker might be an immigrant, stating on Truth Social: “When I said criminals coming in are far worse than those we have in our country, many refuted my claim; yet it has proven to be true.”

‘Act of terrorism’

Mayor LaToya Cantrell referred to the event as a “terrorist attack”; however, initially, FBI assistant special agent Alethea Duncan reported it as “not a terrorist event”.

Later, the FBI confirmed that the suspect was killed during the confrontation with police, stating: “The FBI is leading the investigation, treating it as an act of terrorism.”

Statements from Biden and Trump

President Joe Biden has been receiving continuous briefings on the situation and commended the “swift and courageous actions of local law enforcement in mitigating further casualties”.

“No form of violence is justifiable, and we will not accept any assaults on our communities,” he asserted.

Donald Trump expressed in a statement his administration’s complete support for New Orleans as it investigates and recovers from this “pure evil act”.

On Truth Social, he remarked: “Our thoughts are with the innocent victims and their families, including the brave officers of the New Orleans Police Department.”

Meanwhile, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has committed to ensuring victims and their families receive “justice for this appalling act”.

Governor of Louisiana Jeff Landry posted on X that he is “praying for all victims and first responders present at the scene.”

He labeled the incident a “horrific act of violence”.

Bourbon Street and the Sugar Bowl game

Bourbon Street is a historic and well-trodden tourist destination located in New Orleans’ French Quarter.

The area is bustling with bars and restaurants, frequently crowded with pedestrians.

Alongside New Year festivities, the Sugar Bowl college football match is set to occur at the nearby Caesars Superdome later the same day.

Superintendent Kirkpatrick assured that officers are committed to ensuring safety at the game between Georgia and Notre Dame, indicating the event will proceed as planned.