Washington: At least 15 people were killed and more than 35 injured when a man “hell-bent on carnage” rammed his truck at high speed into a crowd in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter, then opened fire, in what authorities are now investigating as an act of terrorism.
The incident took place about 3.15am on Wednesday (8.15pm AEDT) near the area of Canal and Bourbon streets. The popular tourist precinct was still filled with revellers ringing in the new year in one of America’s most bustling cities.
The driver was identified by the FBI as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a US citizen and military veteran from Texas, who had an Islamic State flag in his truck, along with weapons and a potential explosive device. The agency does not believe he was acting alone.
“An ISIS flag was located in the vehicle, and the FBI is working to determine the subject’s potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organisations,” the agency said in a statement.
“Weapons and a potential IED [improvised explosive device] were located in the subject’s vehicle. Other potential IEDs were also located in the French Quarter. The FBI’s special agent bomb technicians are working with our law enforcement partners to determine if any o
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