On New Year’s Day 2025, a violent incident rocked New Orleans, leaving 15 people dead and dozens more injured. The attacker, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran, deliberately drove a white Ford pickup truck into a crowd in the French Quarter, a popular area filled with New Year’s revelers. The vehicle was seen flying the black flag of the Islamic State, and after crashing into the crowd, Jabbar opened fire before dying in a shootout with police.
Initially, authorities reported 10 deaths, but the toll rose to 15 according to the New Orleans coroner’s office. The assailant also shot and wounded two police officers, though they are in stable condition.
The FBI is investigating the attack as a potential act of terrorism. President Joe Biden confirmed that the suspect had shared videos online suggesting he was inspired by ISIS. Jabbar, who had served in Afghanistan, faced significant financial troubles before the incident, including a backlog on house payments and credit card debt. Authorities are still working to determine whether he acted alone and if there are any connections to other terrorist activities.