By Kolawole Ojebisi
The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation has unravelled the mystery surrounding the vehicle crash that left 10 people dead on the eve of the New Year in New Orleans.
This is as the FBI identified Shamsud-Din-Jabbar, a 42-year-old army veteran from Texas, as suspect
Jabbar reportedly drove a pickup truck into a crowd celebrating New Year’s Day on Wednesday in New Orleans, a city in Louisiana, and immediately opened fire, injuring dozens, including two police officers.
Recall that prior to this latest investigation authorities said the motive was not affiliated with terrorism.
But Alethea Duncan, an FBI special agent, said the 42-year-old’s vehicle had a black ISIS flag flying from the truck’s rear bumper.
Duncan said the vehicle was an electric Ford pickup truck that appeared to have been rented.
Law enforcement officials said Jabbar was killed in a shootout with officers, noting that they did not think he was “solely responsible”.
Weapons, as well as “potential improvised explosive devices,” otherwise known as IEDs, were found in the vehicle.
Officials also said they located IEDs in the popular French Quarter area. The FBI said it is investigating potential associations with terrorist organisations.
The attack happened less than a mile from where the Sugar Bowl, an annual college football game, was to be hosted.
The match was postponed for 24 hours for public safety reasons.
President Joe Biden expressed his condolences in a statement, saying there is no justification for violence of any kind.
President-elect Donald Trump also described the incident as “pure evil” and reignited the debate about immigration and crime in the US.
Meanwhile, Jeff Landry, governor of Louisiana, declared a state of emergency.
Landy said the declaration will allow federal and local partners to bring all resources necessary to keep the city safe.
