New Orleans attack suspect named as FBI say they do not believe he is 'solely responsible'
A manhunt is underway in the US for more people linked to a suspected terror attack in New Orleans, as ITV News' Neil Connery and Robert Moore reports
The suspect who drove a pickup truck into a large crowd in New Orleans on Wednesday has been named as Shamsud Din Jabbar, as the FBI say they do not believe he is "solely responsible" for the attack.
The New Orleans coroner said the death toll has risen to 15 people.
More than 30 people were also injured in the attack.
An ISIS flag was found on the trailer hitch of a pickup truck, which Jabbar, a US Army veteran from Texas, used as a weapon in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
"We do not believe that Jabbar was solely responsible,” Alethea Duncan, FBI assistant special agent in charge, said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
“We are aggressively running down every lead, including those of his known associates.
"The FBI is working to determine the subject’s potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organisations."
The FBI are appealing for anyone who interacted with Jabbar in the last 72 hours to contact them.
Duncan added: "We are working to confirm how the subject came in possession of (the) vehicle."
Weapons, along with potential improvised explosive devices, were found in the truck and in the French Quarter, Duncan explained.
“As of now, two IEDs have been found and rendered safe,” Duncan said.
In a press conference on Wednesday, the FBI said they do not believe Jabbar acted alone
“The FBI special agent bomb technicians, as well as our local law enforcement partners, have been working to determine if any of these devices are viable, and they will work to render those devices safe.”
The FBI said they are investigating the incident as an "act of terrorism".
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry also announced on Wednesday that he has issued an emergency declaration to mobilise federal, state, and local resources together.
President Biden said his "heart goes out to the victims and their families who were simply trying to celebrate the holiday".
In a statement released on Wednesday, he said: "I am grateful for the brave and swift response of local law enforcement in preventing even greater death and injury.
"I have directed my team to ensure every resource is available as federal, state, and local law enforcement work assiduously to get to the bottom of what happened as quickly as possible and to ensure that there is no remaining threat of any kind."
In a post on Truth Social, President-elect Donald Trump called the incident an "act of pure evil" and said his administration would fully support the New Orleans Police Department.
How the attack unfolded
The incident unfolded towards the end of New Year’s celebrations in New Orleans and hours before a football game at the AllState Bowl, with thousands expected to be in attendance.
Police said the suspect was "hellbent" on creating "carnage" as he drove around a barricade and down Bourbon Street at a "very fast pace" around 3:15am on Wednesday.
Authorities said Jabbar drove onto a pavement, going around a police car that was positioned to block traffic and protect Bourbon Street revelers.
A barrier system designed to prevent vehicle attacks was undergoing repairs in preparation for the Super Bowl, which is being played in the city in February.
Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said: “It did involve a man driving a pickup truck down Bourbon Street at a very fast pace, and it was very intentional behaviour.
“This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could."
Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick addressed the press on Wednesday morning
Police said they shot and killed Jabbar after he exited the vehicle and opened fire on responding officers.
Three officers returned fire. Two were shot and are in stable condition, police said.
Investigators recovered a handgun and AR-style rifle after the shootout, a law enforcement official said when speaking on condition of anonymity.
The city’s official disaster preparedness agency, NOLA Ready said the injured had been taken to five local hospitals.
ITV News' US affiliate CNN spoke to eyewitnesses at the scene who said they "heard gunshots being fired".
"All I seen was a truck slamming into everyone on the left side of Bourbon sidewalk... A body came flying at me," Kevin Garcia told CNN shortly after the incident took place.
Another witness, 22-year-old Whit Davis, said the incident happened while she was at a nightclub on Bourbon Street.
She said: “Everyone started yelling and screaming and running to the back, and then we basically went into lockdown for a little bit and then it calmed down but they wouldn’t let us leave.
"When they finally let us out of the club, police waved us where to walk and were telling us to get out of the area fast. I saw a few dead bodies they couldn’t even cover up and tons of people receiving first aid.”
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