An investigation has identified a lone attacker in the New Orleans truck assault that killed 14 people on New Year’s Eve. Shamsud-Din J., a U.S. citizen and military veteran, is believed to have acted with Islamist motives, potentially linked to the Islamic State. Authorities found two homemade explosives near the attack site and dismissed any connections to a separate incident in Las Vegas. The FBI urges witnesses to aid in the ongoing investigation, which involves analyzing substantial evidence.
Investigation Reveals Lone Attacker in New Orleans Tragedy
In the aftermath of a devastating truck attack in New Orleans that claimed 14 lives, investigators are focusing on a single assailant. Authorities have dismissed any links to a recent explosion involving a Cybertruck in Las Vegas, allowing them to concentrate on the details of the New Orleans incident.
For nearly a day, the investigation team diligently searched for potential accomplices connected to the New Orleans attack. However, during a recent press briefing, the FBI announced that they currently do not believe any additional suspects are involved. “We do not currently believe that citizens are in danger,” stated Christopher Raia, the deputy director of the FBI’s Anti-Terrorism Division.
Details of the Attack and Emerging Evidence
The tragic event unfolded on New Year’s Eve when Shamsud-Din J. drove his pickup truck into a bustling crowd on Bourbon Street, resulting in 14 fatalities and injuring 30 others. This horrific act occurred just hours before the much-anticipated Sugar Bowl college football championship.
Investigators are now uncovering evidence suggesting that the attack may have been driven by Islamist motives. Following the incident, police received numerous tips regarding homemade explosives in the area. They discovered two explosive devices—one near the attack site and another a short distance away. Notably, one device was concealed in a cooler left on the sidewalk.
Surveillance footage revealed individuals curiously interacting with the cooler, initially leading investigators to suspect possible accomplices. However, it has since been determined that these were simply onlookers. Raia is urging any witnesses to come forward to assist the investigation.
As the investigation progresses, over 400 citizen tips and extensive video footage are being meticulously analyzed. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry described the process as piecing together a complex puzzle.
Shamsud-Din J. reportedly rented the pickup truck from a Houston agency on December 30 before making his way to New Orleans, where he posted five videos on Facebook that evening. In his final video, he expressed remorse about his intentions towards his family and friends but hoped his actions would draw attention to the so-called struggle between believers and non-believers.
The FBI is treating this incident as an Islamist terrorist attack linked to the Islamic State (IS). Shamsud-Din J., a U.S. citizen and military veteran, has reportedly been a supporter of IS since the previous summer. Currently, investigators are analyzing three phones and two laptops connected to him.