The FBI15 people have been killed and at least 35 injured after a man suspected of being inspired by the Islamic State group (IS) entered large crowds in New Orleans, Louisiana, early in the morning on New Year's Day.
Here's what we know so far about what happened and the perpetrator.
How did this attack happen?
At 03:15 local time on New Year's Day, a truck plowed into crowds gathered on Bourbon Street in the heart of New Orleans' French Quarter.
CCTV footage shows a white Ford F-150 Lightning driving onto the pavement to go around a police car before hitting pedestrians.
Police described the act as “premeditated”, adding that the attacker – identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar – “was intent on causing the killing and the damage he did”.
“This man was trying to run over as many people as possible,” said New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick.
Jabbar was also armed and was shot in an act of law, injuring two police officers. He was then killed by police firing.
Whit Davis, from Shreveport, Louisiana, told the BBC he was held in a bar with a large group after the attack while police secured the scene.
When they left, they “walked past injured bodies all over the street”, he said.
Who was Shamsud-Din Jabbar?
The FBI said Jabbar, 42, was an Army veteran and a U.S. citizen from Texas.
The truck he was traveling in when he was attacked was electric and it is believed that it was rented in the province through an app. called Thuro.
According to a now-deleted LinkedIn profile, Jabbar served in various roles in the US Army, including human resources and IT, before being discharged. He was deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010.
In a YouTube video posted in 2020, Jabbar said his time in the military taught him “the meaning of great service and what it means to be responsive and take everything seriously, to make sure I'm there and to cross the t's to make sure things go smoothly”.
More on the attack on New Orleans
He attended Georgia State University from 2015 to 2017, earning a degree in computer information systems.
Acting firm Deloitte confirmed that Jabbar was hired by them in 2021 and was said to be working for Ernst & Young.
He is married twice and has children from both relationships. His first marriage ended in 2012 and the second lasted from 2017 to 2022.
Court records related to Jabbar's most recent divorce, obtained by CBS, indicate that he has had financial problems — with his monthly expenses, including child support, exceeding his income.
Various documents reveal that his then wife had accused him of financial mismanagement and obtained a temporary restraining order against him.
Jabbar appears to be working in real estate as well – holding a license that expires in 2021. He had a criminal record, related to traffic offenses and theft.
Are there other suspects?
Authorities are looking into the possibility that Jabhar did not act alone.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said information about the placement of the explosives found in the area means there is “good reason to believe there are multiple people involved” in the attack.
A long gun with a “suppressive device” – which works as a silencer – was also found in the area.
However, Murrill added that “there is still very little information about other perpetrators”.
New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick told NBC they have “persons of interest” at this time who could be considered suspects.
A flag associated with IS was found in the car he was driving and the FBI said it is investigating what Jabbar has to do with terrorist groups.
President Joe Biden said the FBI informed him of the attack. The suspect uploaded videos on social media “a few hours before the attack” showing he was inspired by IS and expressing a “desire to kill”, Biden said.
A person familiar with the investigation told CBS that no foreign terrorist organization has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Earlier reports said authorities were reviewing video footage to try to track down possible suspects, but CBS reported that the video was decided to show only bystanders.
The detectives are also looking into that attack on New Orleans related to the car explosion outside the Trump Hotel. Joe Biden said at this time no connection has been identified.
Who were the victims?
Police said the victims appeared to be mostly New Orleans locals, although many tourists were visiting for New Year's Eve celebrations and the Sugar Bowl – part of the college football playoffs – which was taking place. postponed because of the attack.
Among the dead was a former football star at Princeton University Martin “Tiger” Bechaccording to the athletics department at this college.
“He was a 'Tiger' in every way – a fierce competitor with endless energy, a loving teammate and a caring friend,” Bob Surace, head football coach, said in a statement.
An aspiring nurse Nikyra Cheyenne DedeauxHis mother's death was confirmed by his mother, Melissa, on social media.
He told the media that the 19-year-old boy was hiding with his cousin and their friend, who survived the incident.
Hubert Gauthreaux21, was identified in a Facebook post posted by his high school, saying he was killed in a “senseless act”.
Store manager and father of two Reggie Hunter37, was described by her cousin Shirell Robinson Jackson as “full of life”.
Ms. Jackson told CBS that Reggie was traveling with another cousin, who was injured in the incident.
Nicole Perez she worked in a restaurant and was the mother of a four-month-old son. Her friend and manager, Kimberly Usher Fall, said Nicole was dedicated, intelligent and had a “good heart”.
Audio-visual specialist Matthew Tenedorio, 25, “had a carefree spirit and an infectious laugh” that brought joy to those around him, according to a fundraiser his family set up in his name.
Kareem Badawi, student at the University of Alabama, was nominated by his school. On Facebook, the university's president, Stuart Bell, wrote that he was “sorry with Kareem's family and friends for their tragic loss”.
Where did this happen?
Bourbon Street is a well-known nightlife and tourist hotspot full of restaurants, bars and clubs with live music.
It's within New Orleans' French Quarter, a lively area that attracts tourists and locals alike, especially to celebrate New Year's.
It was founded by the French – who colonized the state of Louisiana before the founding of the USA – in 1718. The original grid of streets designed at that time is at the heart of what draws visitors to the city.
Every year, more than a million people flock to its famous Mardi Gras festivals and parades in the spring, famous for the strings of colorful beads worn by party goers.
Bollard Repair
Questions have been raised about whether renovations to the city's bollard system – introduced to allow cars to enter busy pedestrian streets – may have been behind the attack.
The vice president of the New Orleans City Council told the BBC's Newsday program that the use of short, specific spaces is part of a broader effort to try to prevent potential attacks after 9/11.
However, JP Morrell said the program was in the process of being fixed before the Super Bowl in February when the attack occurred.
According to a notice on the city's website, work to replace the old bollards on Bourbon Street with “removable stainless steel” ones began in November.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the intersection the truck ran through was under construction or if the project's changes pose a risk.
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