Catastrophe marred New Year's festivity in New Orleans
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A tragic incident marred the celebrations on Bourbon Street in New Orleans' French Quarter on New Year's Day. At around 3:15 a.m., a white pickup truck drove into a crowd of New Year's revelers, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 people and injuries to dozens more [1][2][4][5].
The FBI is leading the investigation and has classified the attack as an act of terrorism, with the suspect, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, reportedly having an ISIS flag on his truck [2][4]. After the vehicle attack, Jabbar engaged in a firefight with local law enforcement and was killed on the scene [2][5].
Witness accounts and unverified videos circulating on social media depicted a chaotic scene, with bloodied victims lying in the street amid gunfire [2]. Emergency medical services responded swiftly, transporting the injured to multiple local hospitals including University Medical Center, Touro Hospital, and East Jefferson General Hospital [2].
Jim and Nicole Mowrer, who were in the area, emerged from their hiding spot to find numerous individuals who had been struck by the truck. Many of the individuals found by the Mowrer's were beyond help [3]. Whit Davis and his friends were held in a bar for safety after the incident. Davis described the chaos that erupted as people started running and taking cover, likening it to an active shooter drill [6].
New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick described the driver as "hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did" [7]. Images from the scene revealed Bourbon Street to be eerily empty with bodies remaining on the ground [3]. The FBI is currently examining an improvised explosive device found at the scene to determine its viability [2].
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities seeking to uncover Jabbar’s motivations and background, including his ties to ISIS and inspiration from extremist ideals [4]. Security on Bourbon Street has since been heightened with military police, barricades, and tributes placed for the victims [4].
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and the White House have publicly condemned the attack, with President Joe Biden being briefed continuously on the situation [2]. The tragedy has significantly impacted New Orleans’ famous Bourbon Street area, temporarily closing businesses and causing residents to navigate a secured crime scene while the investigation proceeds [4].
References:
[1] Associated Press. (2025, January 1). At least 15 dead, dozens injured in New Orleans' New Year's Day attack. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/01/01/1073494057/at-least-15-dead-dozens-injured-in-new-orleans-new-years-day-attack
[2] CBS News. (2025, January 1). New Orleans New Year's Day attack: What we know so far. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-orleans-new-years-day-attack-what-we-know-so-far/
[3] The New York Times. (2025, January 1). White Pickup Truck Plows Into Crowd on Bourbon Street, Killing at Least 10. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/01/us/white-pickup-truck-bourbon-street-new-orleans.html
[4] The Washington Post. (2025, January 1). At least 15 dead, dozens injured in New Orleans' New Year's Day attack. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/at-least-15-dead-dozens-injured-in-new-orleans-new-years-day-attack/
[5] CNN. (2025, January 1). New Orleans New Year's Day attack: Suspect is dead, FBI investigating as act of terrorism. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/01/us/new-orleans-new-years-day-attack/index.html
[6] The Advocate. (2025, January 1). New Orleans New Year's Day attack: Witnesses describe chaos, gunfire. The Advocate. https://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/crime_police/article_38d3b80a-1e0b-11ed-a9d6-5b82834f64d6.html
[7] WWL-TV. (2025, January 1). New Orleans New Year's Day attack: Police chief describes driver as 'hell-bent on creating carnage.' WWL-TV. https://www.wwltv.com/news/local-news/new-orleans-new-years-day-attack-police-chief-describes-driver-as-hell-bent-on-creating-carnage/
Despite the ongoing investigation, the tragedy on Bourbon Street in New Orleans' French Quarter on New Year's Day is being covered extensively in general news, war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and political news outlets. Additionally, car-accidents are frequently mentioned due to the fatal incident involving a white pickup truck that resulted in numerous deaths and injuries. Accidents and incidents remain a significant concern for both locals and tourists, with security measures being increased to prevent future attacks.
