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ReutersTen people were killed and 35 others injured after a man drove into crowds in New Orleans, Louisiana on New Year’s Day morning, authorities said.
Here’s what we know so far about what happened and the culprit.
How did the attack begin?
At 3:15 a.m. on New Year’s Day, a Ford pickup truck drove down Bourbon Street in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter.
CCTV footage shows Lightning’s white, Ford F-150 driving on the side of the road to swerve around a police car before striking pedestrians.
Police described the attack as “deliberate”, adding that the attacker – identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar – was “intent on killing people and the damage he caused”.
“This guy is trying to run over as many people as he can,” said New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick.
Jabbar also armed himself and fired at law enforcement, injuring two officers. He was later killed by police guns.
Whit Davis, from Shreveport, Louisiana, told the BBC that he was held in a bar by a large group after the attack while police provided protection.
When they left, they “passed dead and injured bodies all over the street,” he said.
Who was Shamsud-Din Jabbar?
The FBI has identified the attacker as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a veteran and US citizen from Texas.
An Islamic State-affiliated flag was found in the car he was driving and the FBI said it was investigating Jabbar’s possible links to terrorists.
The agency also said that investigators do not believe that the suspect is responsible for the attack. Suspected explosive devices were found in the area.
A long gun with a “suppression device” – acting as a silencer – was also recovered.
According to a now-deleted LinkedIn profile, Jabbar worked in various roles in the US Army, including human resources and IT, before being discharged.
He studied at George State University from 2015 to 2017, and graduated in Computer Information Systems.
He also appears to have worked as a real estate agent, with a license that expired in 2021. He had a criminal record, involving traffic offenses and theft.
The pickup truck he was driving was an electric pickup truck believed to have been rented in Texas through an app.
Who were the people who were killed?
Police said 10 people died and at least 35 were injured. No one has been named publicly.
The president of the University of Georgia said one of his students was seriously injured, while the Israeli government said one of the casualties was two.
Police said the victims appeared to be mostly from New Orleans, although many visitors were there to celebrate New Year’s Eve and the now-cancelled Sugar Bowl, part of America’s college sports.
It was scheduled to begin Wednesday evening at the Caesar Superdome, which is close to where the incident took place.
Where did this happen?
Bourbon Street is a popular nightlife and tourist area with restaurants, bars and music clubs.
It is located in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, a lively area that attracts tourists and locals alike, especially to celebrate the New Year.
It was founded by the French in 1718, and the original streets built during that time are at the heart of the city’s tourist attractions.
Every year, more than a million people flock to its famous Mardi Gras festivities in the spring, famous for the colorful beads worn by party-goers.
