"We will rise again": Officials react to deadly New Orleans attack
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Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies work on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Photo: Michael DeMocker/Getty Images
Federal, state and local authorities condemned the vehicular attack on a New Year's crowd at the famed French Quarter corner of Canal and Bourbon streets early Wednesday that killed at least 15 people and injured some 35 others.
The latest: The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism. Per the agency, the suspect died after exchanging gunfire with police.
- The FBI identified the suspect later Wednesday as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen and Army veteran from Texas.
- An ISIS flag, weapons and a potential explosive device were located in the Ford pickup truck he was driving, which appears to have been rented, the FBI said.
- New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said a male pickup-truck driver, since identified as Jabbar, was "hell bent on creating the carnage and the damage he did."
- The New Year's Day attack came hours before college football's Sugar Bowl, which was set to kick off Wednesday around one mile from the scene of the attack. The game has been postponed to Thursday afternoon.
What they're saying: Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry described the situation as "fluid" in a Wednesday statement, urging people to avoid the French Quarter amid an active investigation.
- "We understand the concerns of the community and want to reassure everyone that the safety of the French Quarter and the city of New Orleans remains our top priority," he wrote.
President Biden said that he's directed his team to ensure law enforcement has resources as they "work assiduously to get to the bottom of what happened as quickly as possible."
- He condemned the violence that unfolded as victims and bystanders were "were simply trying to celebrate the holiday."
President-elect Trump in a Truth Social post suggested "criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country." Though there were not clear details on the deceased suspect's citizenship status at the time of Trump's statement, Jabbar has since been confirmed to be a U.S. citizen.
- "The Trump Administration will fully support the City of New Orleans as they investigate and recover from this act of pure evil!" Trump added.
Zoom in: New Orleans officials highlighted the city's historic resilience in the face of tragedy.
- Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.), who represents the congressional district that includes most of the New Orleans, said in a statement that the community "will rise again, stronger and more united."
State of play: The city's security and crowd control measures have received heightened attention recently as it prepares to host the NFL's Super Bowl in February.
- The NFL said in a Wednesday statement that it has been working with local, state and federal agencies over the past two years to develop "comprehensive security plans" ahead of Super Bowl LIX.
- The league said it is "confident attendees will have a safe and enjoyable Super Bowl experience."
- Regional economic development organization GNO Inc. — the CEO of which was tapped to lead local Super Bowl preparations — said in a statement it had "full confidence" that law enforcement "will quickly restore safety, and be able to update us all on this tragedy."
Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley announced at a Wednesday press conference that the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game will now kick off Thursday.
- "All parties ... agree that it's in the best interest of everybody and public safety that we postpone the game for 24 hours," he said
- Ahead of Wednesday's Peach Bowl in Atlanta, police there said in a statement that specialized units and additional personnel will be deployed to parts of the city "as an added precaution."
Go deeper: Sugar Bowl football game postponed after New Orleans attack
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional developments.
