The suspect accused of a deadly terrorist attack on New Year’s Day in New Orleans has been identified.
NBC News has identified the suspect accused of carrying out the attack as Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42.
Officials are still working on information about his background and on potential travel history.
Authorities called the French Quarter attack that killed at least 10 people and injured 35 others an act of terrorism.
Below is everything we could find about Jabbar.
• At least 10 people were killed and 35 injured when a driver rammed a pickup truck into a crowd during New Year’s celebrations on Bourbon Street in New Orleans early on Wednesday morning. The FBI is investigating it as an “act of terrorism.”
• The suspect, who was killed in a firefight with officers, had an ISIS flag at the time of the attack, according to law enforcement sources. One of the sources also said multiple suspected explosive devices were found in an ice chest in the truck.
• The driver’s actions were “very intentional,” said police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick. “This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could.” The man also shot at police officers, hitting two, who are in stable condition, Kirkpatrick said.
• The attack in the popular French Quarter happened just hours before the city is expected to host The Sugar Bowl less than a mile away. The annual college football game draws fans from all over the country, with the University of Georgia set to take on Notre Dame tonight.
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Sources confirm to WDSU that the Jabbar, who is accused of driving, a truck through crowds on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, is dead.
Suspect was armed, had explosive devices:
City officials confirmed that Jabbar was armed.
According to City Council President Helena Moreno, he had explosives in an ice chest inside the truck at the time of the attack.
Jabbar was wearing full military gear and may have had a long-range rifle.
Witnesses on the scene reported hearing shots being fired into the crowd.
Suspect truck had Texas tag:
Officials have confirmed that Jabbar was driving a white truck with a Texas tag with the license plate LZ1 575.
The trailer had a hitch with a pipe wrapped around it. The pipe had a cloth or flag draped around it.
Suspect was not local:
According to City Council President Helena Moreno, Jabbar was not local.
It is unclear if the person was staying in New Orleans, but may have been linked to an Air BNB in the St. Roch area.
The Air BNB was evacuated and there is a heavy police presence on Mandeville Street.
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Investigators are working to determine whether the deceased suspect entered the country recently and whether he had a connection to ISIS, law enforcement sources told ABC News. It appears that the truck the suspect rented was spotted in Texas on Tuesday, but it was not clear if the suspect was in the vehicle at the time, according to a source citing preliminary law enforcement information.
Jason Williams, the district attorney of Orleans Parrish, which includes New Orleans, told ABC News that investigators are conducting a grid search to determine if other explosive devices were planted. He also said investigators are probing whether the suspect acted alone or had help from others in planning and executing the attack.
Investigated as terror attack
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the horrific incident a “terrorist attack” and the FBI said it was being investigated as an act of terror. The bloodshed comes on the heels of a deadly vehicle ramming attack in Germany. Fears of such attacks were a growing concern among law enforcement as well as attacks by lone actors at winter holiday events.
Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the driver had attempted to kill as many people as possible. The truck used in the attack appeared to be a F-150 Lightning, an electric vehicle. A black flag appeared to be attached to the vehicle, but its significance was not immediately known.
Truck rented through app
The Ford F-150 Lightning truck used in the attack was apparently rented through the Turo app — a car sharing company, according to Rodrigo Diaz, the owner of the truck. Diaz told ABC News he rented the truck to an individual through the app and is currently talking to the FBI. He declined further comment.
More explosive devices found in other areas of French Quarter
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