US President Joe Biden announced on Friday that he had spoken with the families of those affected by the New Year’s Day truck attack in New Orleans, which resulted in at least 14 fatalities and left dozens more injured. The President also expressed plans to visit the city next Monday to mourn alongside the victims’ families and the community.
The attack took place when Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, killing at least 14 people and injuring approximately 30 others. Officials revealed that Jabbar had posted videos online prior to the attack, expressing support for the Islamic State (IS) group. He was killed in a shootout with police shortly after the incident.
Authorities have since cleared the crime scene and reopened the iconic Bourbon Street to the public.
Memorials for the victims now adorn the area, with flowers and candles marking the spots where lives were lost. Among the victims were an 18-year-old aspiring nurse, a single mother, a father of two, and a former college football star.
The FBI is investigating Jabbar’s motives and his path to radicalization, although they have found no evidence that he received any external assistance. The agency confirmed that improvised explosive devices were left at the scene but were safely disarmed.
As New Orleans begins its healing process, street performers, football fans, and locals have returned to Bourbon Street, slowly bringing life back to the area.
