Chaos erupted in New Orleans early Wednesday when a US Army veteran, flying an ISIS flag, rammed a rented Ford F-150 Lightning into crowds of New Year’s Eve revelers on Bourbon Street. The rampage left at least 15 dead and over 35 injured, marking one of the deadliest terror attacks on US soil since 9/11.
The suspect, 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, bypassed police barricades and sped through the iconic street at 3:15 a.m., leaving carnage in his wake. His deadly spree ended only when the truck collided with a crane blocking the road. Jabbar then opened fire on responding officers, who fatally shot him.
The aftermath was horrific. Twisted bodies littered the street, and witnesses described a scene of absolute carnage. “It just kept going—body after body. Unbelievable,” said one bystander who sought cover in a nearby club.
The violence didn’t stop there. Investigators discovered several improvised explosive devices, including nail-packed pipe bombs, in the truck and scattered throughout the French Quarter. Surveillance footage suggested Jabbar may have had accomplices, but police later cleared those seen with him on video.
Law enforcement is also probing a potential connection to a Tesla Cybertruck explosion near Trump’s Las Vegas hotel the same morning, which killed one and injured seven. Both incidents are under investigation as possible acts of terrorism.
Jabbar, who lived in a Houston trailer park predominantly occupied by Muslim immigrants, had traveled to Egypt in 2023. A nearby mosque frequented by his neighbors was cordoned off following the attack.
Officials are now facing tough questions about security lapses. Protective barriers on Bourbon Street, removed in November for a safety system overhaul ahead of the 2025 Super Bowl, could have prevented the truck’s entry.
“This was not just terrorism—this was evil,” said New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick. Authorities are working to uncover whether Jabbar acted alone or as part of a larger network.
The Sugar Bowl, initially scheduled for Wednesday, was postponed amid the tragedy, casting a shadow over what should have been a celebratory start to the year.
