from BBC

Summary

• The suspect in the New Orleans vehicle attack has been identified as a 42-year-old US citizen from Texas, Shamsud-Din Jabbar
• He is believed to have driven a pick-up truck at high speed into large crowds, killing 10 people and leaving at least 35 others injured before he was shot dead by police
• The FBI said an Islamic State group flag was found in the vehicle and they are investigating the attack as an “act of terrorism”
• Investigators say they believe the suspect was not “solely responsible” for the attack
• Potential explosive devices were found in the truck and elsewhere in the area 
• The incident occurred at approximately 03:15 local time (09:15 GMT) in the French Quarter – an area popular with visitors to the city, in the southern state of Louisiana
• Witnesses describe the “horrific” scene as bystanders rushed to assist victims or ran for cover

Live Reporting

Edited by Adam Durbin in London and Laura Blasey in Washington DC

1. Authorities discovered guns and explosives in vehicle, AP reportspublished at 17:0917:09The Associated Press reports that authorities found guns and pipe bombs in the vehicle, according to a Louisiana State Police bulletin the outlet obtained.The bulletin describes devices that were concealed inside coolers and wired for remote detonation. A remote control was also discovered.Share
2. Local media reports names of some victimspublished at 16:5316:53We are starting to learn the names of some of the victims of the New Orleans attack through local and US media reports.The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate reports that 18-year-old Nikyra Dedeaux, 37-year-old Reggie Hunter, and 27-year-old Tiger Bech were among those who died. The Associated Press also spoke to a friend of Dedeaux’s who witnessed the tragedy.A University of Georgia student was critically injured, according to a statement from the school’s president, Jere W Morehead.Two Israeli citizens were among those injured in the attack, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also posted on X.Share
3. Authorities investigating explosive devices and whether suspect acted alonepublished at 16:3516:35At the news conference earlier, officials said they believed the attacker may not have been operating alone.Our US partner CBS News is reporting that investigators are focusing on the suspected explosive devices found at the scene as part of this line of inquiry.Two such devices were found in the vehicle and at least one other was found in the area and detonated by law enforcement, a source told CBS.Investigators are said to be reviewing footage to see if anyone helped to place these devices.Share
4. Watch: ‘We heard shots… and then the sirens started’published at 16:1816:18Witness Steve Hyde has told the BBC about his experience of being in in a New Orleans bar in the early hours of New Year’s Day as a car drove through a crowd on Bourbon Street.Hyde tells us he heard gunfire ring out and saw people fleeing from the attack. Watch his story below:

1. What we know about the suspected attackerpublished at 16:1316:13We’re slowly receiving more information about the alleged attacker, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar. 
   • He was a US citizen and lived in Houston, Texas 
   • A flag associated with the Islamic State group was found in the vehicle he was driving and the FBI said it was investigating what affiliations Jabbar may have had with terrorist groups
   • He appears to have had a real estate license that expired in 2021
   • He had prior brushes with the law including theft and driving without a license
   • He attended Georgia State University from 2015-2017 and graduated with a degree in Computer Information Systems
   Share
2. Increased police presence in Washington DCpublished at 16:0016:00Police in Washington DC say security in the US capital has been heightened following the attack in New Orleans, Louisiana, according to CBS News, the BBC’s US news partner. A spokesperson says “while there is no known threat to the District of Columbia”, the force will be upping security measures “out of an abundance of caution”.”While we do not discuss specifics regarding operations, tactics, or staffing, the community will notice an increased police presence throughout the city.” 

What have we learned so far?

This afternoon, we have heard a press conference and received an updated statement from the FBI.

Here’s what you need to know about the incident in New Orleans early on Wednesday morning: 

• The FBI has named 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a US citizen from Texas, as the suspect. They confirm he was shot dead at the scene by police officers, after opening fire on them 
• FBI agent Alethea Duncan says he is an Army veteran. They believe he was discharged, but cannot confirm this
• Investigators are looking into whether the suspect had accomplices, as Duncan says they don’t believe he was solely responsible 
• A flag for the Islamic State group was found in the vehicle used to drive into the crowd. The police say they have found two improvised explosive devices in the French Quarter neighbourhood, where the attack took place, along with another possible device in the truck
• The FBI statement adds that the vehicle appears to be rented, and they are working out how the suspect gained possession of it 
• The driver mounted the pavement, and drove around safety barriers and a police car, just after 03:15 local time (09:15 GMT) and drove into a crowd of people 
• The death toll remains at 10, and the number of injured is at least 35. Two of those wounded are police officers and another is a student of the University of Georgia 

• A sold-out annual college football game, the Sugar Bowl, has been postponed for 24 hours, until Thursday evening, after the attack
• The Louisiana governor has introduced an emergency declaration, which helps boost security for the area 

his afternoon, we have heard a press conference and received an updated statement from the FBI.

• A sold-out annual college football game, the Sugar Bowl, has been postponed for 24 hours, until Thursday evening, after the attack
• The Louisiana governor has introduced an emergency declaration, which helps boost security for the area 

Suspect got around police cars and barriers in pickup, police chief says

We’re learning more about how the driver managed to get the pickup truck onto the street, where usually there are bollards, a reporter at the news conference says. 

Mayor LaToya Cantrell says, as we have been reporting, that bollards blocking the street there are undergoing replacement. 

Superintendent Kirkpatrick takes over, and tells the room they had patrol cars and other barriers in place instead. 

However, she says the suspect “drove around onto the sidewalk and got around” the barriers stationed on the street.

“We did have a car there, we had barriers there, we had officers there, and they still got around.” 

Kirkpatrick adds that the so-called wedge barrier in that spot was known to have “malfunction problems”. 

She says these type of wedge barriers can usually be raised and lowered, but they were lowered at the time of the incident as officials didn’t want to risk them stuck in the raised position and impeding potential access for emergency vehicles. 

Another police official later adds that there had been a vehicle parked where the malfunctioning barrier would usually be. 

The governor says officials will review how this played out.

Questions posed around bollards and other safety barriers

A journalist at the news conference asks about reports that bollards on Bourbon Street were down because of repairs, asking if there was any option to put a police car in its place. 

Governor Jeff Landry appears increasingly agitated by the questions, and before passing the microphone over to the New Orleans mayor, replies: “One of the first things I thought this morning, when the mayor called me, I will tell you… that whatever the problem was, is going to be solved”.

Mayor of New Orleans LaToya Cantrell says New Orleans police deemed the bollards on Bourbon Street “inefficient” and the government decided to improve them for the Super Bowl this year. 

“Bollards were not up… because (their repair is) near completion, with the expectation of being completed of course, by Super Bowl. Way before Super Bowl… that is the reason,” she tells the news conference.

For more on this story go to: BBC