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The festive atmosphere of New Orleans’ French Quarter turned into a scene of horror in the early hours of New Year’s Day. Revelers, many of them young adults, filled the streets of the bustling district, known as the epicenter of the city’s vibrant nightlife, when tragedy struck.
At approximately 03:15 (09:15 GMT), Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Texas resident and US Army veteran, drove a rental truck at high speed into a crowd, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more.
Grainy surveillance footage captured the chilling moment when the white pick-up truck barreled down Canal Street, swerved onto Bourbon Street past a police car, and accelerated into a crowd of partygoers. Witnesses described the chaos.
Kimberly Stricklen, a visitor, recalled: “We heard a squeal, the revving engine, and then a horrifying impact. The screams and the sound of crunching metal and bodies were unforgettable.”
The rampage continued for three blocks, leaving a trail of devastation, before the vehicle crashed near Bourbon and Conti Streets. Jabbar exited the truck and exchanged gunfire with police before being fatally shot.
British tourist Steve Hyde, who was nearby, described the scene: “We heard gunshots, saw people running, and then the sirens began. I love this city, and my heart is broken.”
Police, already deployed in large numbers for New Year’s Eve, arrived within minutes. Radio transmissions captured their frantic calls for assistance as they attended to casualties.
The FBI later confirmed that a flag associated with the Islamic State was found in the vehicle, along with suspected improvised explosive devices nearby. Investigators are working to determine whether Jabbar acted alone or as part of a larger plot.
Security Gaps Questioned
The attack has raised concerns about security measures in the area. The barriers designed to prevent vehicles from entering Bourbon Street were undergoing replacement, leaving gaps in protection.
“We had barriers, a parked police car, and officers on the scene, but the attacker managed to bypass them,” said New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick. “We had a plan, but the terrorist outmaneuvered it.”
Local DJ Derrick Albert, who typically works near the attack site, narrowly avoided becoming a victim. A city-issued ticket had forced him to relocate just weeks earlier.
“That ticket saved my life,” Albert said. “I’d have been the first one he hit.”
Albert and others questioned whether tighter security should have been implemented, especially given the large crowds gathered for New Year’s Eve and the Sugar Bowl football game.
A 2017 city memo highlighted the potential risk of a vehicle-based attack, referencing similar incidents in France, the UK, and New York.
“We all knew it could happen—maybe during Mardi Gras or the Super Bowl,” Albert said. “This could have been prevented.”
Resilience Amid Tragedy
Despite the shock and loss, the French Quarter began returning to its lively normalcy just 24 hours after the attack. Bars and restaurants near the crime scene resumed business, serving football fans in town for the rescheduled Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame.
Live music filled the air, and performers entertained onlookers near the cordoned-off crime scene. Derrick Albert expressed confidence in the city’s resilience.
“We’ll bounce back,” he said. “We always do.”
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