U.S. President Joe Biden revealed that the suspect behind the deadly New Year’s Day car-ramming attack in New Orleans was motivated by the Islamic State (ISIS). According to Biden, the attacker shared videos online expressing his intent to kill, inspired by the extremist group.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Biden stated that the FBI had confirmed the suspect’s connection to ISIS-inspired propaganda. The attack, which occurred in the early hours of New Year’s Day, claimed at least 15 lives and left dozens injured.
New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick described the suspect’s actions as deliberate and calculated. “He was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could. He was hellbent on creating carnage,” Kirkpatrick said.
The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din J., a U.S.-born former Army serviceman from Texas, engaged in a gunfight with law enforcement officers before being fatally shot. Two officers sustained injuries during the confrontation.
The FBI is treating the incident as an act of terrorism. Investigators found potential explosive devices both inside and outside the suspect’s vehicle, along with an Islamic State flag, according to Biden.
Biden emphasized that the perpetrator was a U.S. citizen with a military background. “The killer was an American citizen, born in Texas. He served on active duty in the Army for many years and in the reserves until a few years ago,” Biden said.
Authorities are continuing to investigate whether the suspect acted alone or had accomplices. Surveillance footage initially showed a group of four individuals behaving suspiciously near the scene, but they have since been ruled out as suspects.
FBI investigator Alethea Duncan stated that there remains a possibility that others were involved. “We do not believe the driver acted solely,” Duncan noted.
The attack has heightened concerns over domestic terrorism and the influence of extremist propaganda within the United States.
