 "Suspect in New Orleans incident had ISIS flag at the time of attack: Report")
The suspect involved in Wednesday’s crowd attack in New Orleans that claimed 10 lives and injured over 35 people was found with an ISIS flag at the time of the incident, according to a CNN report, citing two law enforcement sources.
One of the sources also said multiple suspected explosive devices were found in an ice chest in the pickup truck used in the attack, added the report.
The truck was listed on the car rental platform Turo, the vehicle’s owner told CNN via text message.
Two federal law enforcement officials also told CNN that the truck did not belong to the suspect. One of the sources noted that it was rented through a site where individuals can lease out their own vehicles.
The vehicle, a white Ford F-150 Lightning electric truck, is registered to a Houston man who has worked at the car dealership where the truck was originally sold. Public records associated with the vehicle’s licence plate confirm this, and the owner said that the truck was available on Turo, reported CNN.
The FBI, which is spearheading the investigation, has classified the incident as an “act of terrorism.”
The agency has identified the suspect as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a US citizen.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsInvestigators are examining the suspect’s potential associates, as well as their political and religious beliefs, to determine if there are links to any known terrorist organisations.
In 2019, ISIS lost its final stronghold in Syria, bringing an end to the so-called caliphate it had declared in 2014. However, it has expanded its presence in Africa, directing hundreds of attacks over the past years, in addition to dozens of others in their former strongholds of Iraq and Syria.
The US military has sought to quell a resurgence of ISIS in Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad earlier this month, striking numerous ISIS camps and operatives.
In an early morning attack on Wednesday, the driver crashed his pickup truck into a crowd celebrating New Year’s Day in New Orleans’ French Quarter and opened fire, killing 10 people and injuring more than 35.
The FBI said the incident was a potential “act of terrorism”.
The suspect, described by one city leader as being in “full military gear,” died after a shootout with police, Reuters quoted law enforcement officials as saying.
“This man was trying to run over as many people as he could,” Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said at a televised press conference on Wednesday.
“He was hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did,” Kirkpatrick added.
The incident occurred at 3:15 a.m. (0915 GMT) at the intersection of Canal and Bourbon Streets, a historic tourist destination in the city’s French Quarter known for attracting large crowds with its music and bars.
Kirkpatrick said the driver, who swerved around barricades, fired at police and struck two police officers from the vehicle after it crashed. The officers were in stable condition, she added.
“We know the perpetrator has been killed,” said New Orleans City Councilman Oliver Thomas. “As we search for a motive, remember there is no making sense of evil.”
With inputs from agencies
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