New Orleans Prepares to Reopen Bourbon Street Following Truck Attack

New Orleans is preparing to reopen Bourbon Street after an assailant plowed through it with a truck early Wednesday morning, killing 15 New Year’s revelers and injuring about 30 more. Why It Matters The city, known for its big festivities, is still reeling from the attack as the investigation into the incident and assailant continues. What was supposed to be a celebration of the year to come turned into a deadly day to mourn. What To Know Authorities completed processing the scene early Thursday morning with the last of the bodies removed, an unnamed official familiar with the matter told The Associated Press (AP). Bourbon Street will reopen later Thursday, according to the official. Emergency service vehicles form a security barrier to keep other vehicles out of the French Quarter after a vehicle drove into a crowd on New Orleans’ Canal and Bourbon Street, Wednesday Jan. 1, 2025. New… Emergency service vehicles form a security barrier to keep other vehicles out of the French Quarter after a vehicle drove into a crowd on New Orleans’ Canal and Bourbon Street, Wednesday Jan. 1, 2025. New Orleans prepares to reopen Bourbon Street after an assailant plowed through it with a truck early Wednesday morning, killing 15 New Year’s revelers and injuring 30 more. AP Photo/Gerald Herbert Details About The Bourbon Street Attack Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran from Texas, has been named the suspect in the New Year’s attack that is being treated as an act of terrorism. At around 4:15 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Jabbar allegedly rammed a pickup truck into a crowd of revelers in the French Quarter. The truck eventually stopped, and Jabbar allegedly opened fire on responding police officers, injuring two before being killed in a shootout with law enforcement. Four victims have been identified by their families: Reggie Hunter, Nikyra Dedeaux, Tiger Bech and Nicole Perez. An ISIS flag, weapons and multiple IED bombs were found in the suspect’s rented truck. In the wake of the attack, authorities cordoned off Bourbon and Canal Streets and several coroner’s office vehicles were parked on the corner of the two blocks. The FBI said Wednesday that it was believed Jabbar did not act alone. However, after serving search warrants, authorities did not make any additional arrests known to the public, as of Thursday morning. It’s unclear if federal officials are still actively looking for additional suspects. Who Is Shamsud-Din Jabbar? Jabbar, a Houston resident, joined the Army in 2007, serving on active duty in human resources and information technology and deploying to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010, the service said. He transferred to the Army Reserve in 2015 and left in 2020 with the rank of staff sergeant. In 2005, Jabbar was charged for driving with a suspended license and in 2002 he was charged with misdemeanor theft, according to records reviewed by Newsweek. Federal officials are investigating Jabbar’s potential associations with terror organizations. What People Are Saying Tessa Cundiff, a French Quarter resident, told the AP: “We looked out our front door and saw caution tape and dead silence, and it’s eerie.” Zion Parsons, an 18-year-old from Gulfport, Mississippi, who lost a friend in the attack, told the AP that he saw the assailant’s truck “barreling through, throwing people like in a movie scene, throwing people into the air.” “Bodies, bodies all up and down the street, everybody screaming and hollering,” Parsons recalled from the scene. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said: “This is not just an act of terrorism. This is evil.” President Joe Biden said at a press conference: “I grieve with you.” “Our nation grieves with you. We’re going to stand with you as you mourn and as you heal in the weeks to come,” he added. What Happens Next The Sugar Bowl was supposed to kick off on Wednesday between the SEC [Southeastern Conference] champions, the Georgia Bulldogs, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in New Orleans; however, it was delayed in the wake of the attack. The quarterfinal game between 2-seed Georgia and 7-seed Notre Dame was rescheduled for Thursday afternoon at the Caesars Superdome. Meanwhile, New Orleans is set to host two major events this year, Super Bowl LIX in February and Mardi Gras in March. The city faces security concerns surrounding these events following the New Year’s attack, however, officials reassured the public that they are working to ensure those events are safe for everyone. This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.