New Orleans terror attack: At least 15 dead, 35 injured
Harrowing audio has emerged of the 911 calls after Shamsud Din Jabbar rammed a truck into a crowd in New Orleans, killing 15 people and injuring 35 others. Warning: Graphic
US police and the FBI are searching for co-conspirators of Shamsud Din Jabbar, the man who allegedly rammed a crowd in New Orleans, killing at least 15.
Shamsud Din Jabbar – who ploughed through crowds on the famed Bourbon St in New Orleans at 3.15am (local time) – was not “solely responsible” for the attack, according to the FBI.
At least three pipe bombs were found in the area — one in the truck and two others that were discovered nearby, the FBI said.
The FBI has ruled out three men and a woman who authorities initially thought were planting multiple explosive devices around the historic French Quarter, where the killer driver carried about his senseless terror attack.
As locals and tourists saw in the New Year and partied ahead of a big college football game, the attacker drove down the popular street “at a very fast pace”, New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said.
“He was hell bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did,” she said.
“This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could.”
The impact of the attack can be heard in new 911 audio released by authorities below.
After crashing his vehicle into a crane, Jabbar opened fire on police, striking two officers.
First responders then discovered improvised explosive devices, prompting the evacuation of people in hotels along Bourbon St before they were later neutralised by explosives experts.
The US citizen – who grew up in Texas and spent a decade in the Army – was dressed in military gear and had an Islamic State flag on the rented vehicle used in the attack.
At least 35 people were injured and 15 people were killed, most of whom were local residents rather than tourists, according to Supt Kirkpatrick.
Jabbar was also shot dead, while the two officers he shot were taken to hospital in a stable condition.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell declared her city had been “impacted by a terrorist attack”.
That was initially contradicted by an FBI agent at the scene, before the bureau later released a statement confirming the attack was being investigated as an “act of terrorism”.
Reveller Kevin Garcia recounted the horror on CNN, saying he saw “a truck slamming into everyone on the left side of Bourbon sidewalk”.
“A body came flying at me,” the 22-year-old said, adding that he also heard gunshots.
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Originally published as New Orleans terror attack: At least 15 dead, 35 injured