President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will travel to New Orleans, Louisiana, on Tuesday to meet with the families of victims and members of the community devastated by the New Year’s Day terror attack that claimed 14 lives. The White House has confirmed that the President will also attend meetings with local authorities for updates on the ongoing investigation.
The attack, which also left 37 people injured, was allegedly carried out by Shamsud-Bin Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran. According to police sources, Jabbar drove a rented pickup truck into a crowd celebrating the new year on Bourbon Street before being fatally shot by police in a gunfight.
Although initial reports suggested the possibility of accomplices, the FBI has since determined that Jabbar acted alone. Two hours before the attack, he allegedly placed two coolers containing homemade explosive devices along Bourbon Street. Additional bomb-making materials were discovered in the pickup truck, which he had rented in Houston and driven to New Orleans on New Year’s Eve.
In videos posted to social media just hours before the attack, Jabbar claimed allegiance to the Islamic State (IS), a connection further supported by the discovery of an IS flag attached to the back of his truck.
Federal investigators also uncovered a short-term rental near the attack site where Jabbar had briefly stayed. Inside, they found more explosive materials and evidence of a failed attempt to destroy incriminating items by fire. Additional chemicals used in bomb-making were later located at Jabbar’s primary residence in Houston, Texas.
President Biden quickly directed federal agencies to provide full support to local and state authorities in their investigation. “To all the families of those who were killed, to all those who were injured, to all the people in New Orleans who are grieving today, I want you to know I grieve with you,” Biden said Thursday. “Our nation grieves with you. We’re going to stand with you as you mourn and as you heal in the weeks to come.”
Biden, who has previously visited New Orleans for events at Tulane University, emphasized his commitment to aiding the city’s recovery. “The resilience of New Orleans is a testament to the strength of America,” he said, pledging federal assistance in the healing process.
Investigators in New Orleans are also examining whether there are any connections between the attack and a separate explosion involving a Tesla Cybertruck outside a Trump Hotel in Las Vegas on the same day. According to Sheriff Kevin McMahill, the Nevada incident appears to have been a suicide, with the driver identified as Matthew Livelsberger, an active-duty soldier.
While no links between the two events have been identified so far, President Biden has instructed authorities to remain vigilant and continue probing any potential connections.
