NEW ORLEANS — At least 15 people are dead and 35 more are injured after New Orleans police say a driver intentionally crashed into a crowd on Bourbon Street.
Channel 2’s ABC affiliate WGNO-TV first reported that the crash happened around 3:15 a.m. central time on Bourbon Street and Canal Street.
ABC News reported on Wednesday afternoon that the death toll had risen from 10 to 15.
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Police said they believe this was an intentional act and the suspect did not act alone.
“It did involve a man driving a pickup truck down Bourbon Street at a very fast pace, and it was very intentional behavior,” said police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick. “He was hellbent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.”
Police said the suspect opened fire on officers, who returned fire and shot him. The suspect died. Two officers were shot, but are stable.
Investigators have reviewed video of three men and a woman placing explosives in probe of New Orleans attack, according to the Associated Press.
Multiple law enforcement sources told ABC News that the suspect has been identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar. Authorities are working to determine whether he had any affiliation with ISIS, sources said.
Channel 2 Action News learned that Shamsud-Din Jabbar attended Georgia State University. The school confirmed that he attended from 2015 to 2017 and graduated with a degree in Computer Information Systems.
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The FBI confirmed that Jabbar is also a U.S. Army veteran.
Police have not released the names and ages of the 15 people who were killed.
Kirkpatrick said 26 victims are being treated for their injuries at University Medical Center New Orleans and an additional nine people are being treated at other area hospitals. Kirkpatrick said the majority of the victims are locals.
One of the victims is a UGA student, according to the university.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has now taken over the scene and is checking on “improvised explosive devices” that were found in the area.
“The FBI is the lead investigative agency, and we are working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism,” the FBI said in a statement.
The White House said that President Joe Biden called New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell to offer full federal support.
New Orleans Police said officers prepared for tens of thousands of visitors between New Year’s festivities and college football fans in town for the Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame. Police were at 100% staff with an additional 300 officers from other agencies.
Kirkpatrick says police are making sure the routes around the Caesars Superdome are safe and secure for the Sugar Bowl game.
District Attorney of Orleans Parish Jason Williams told ABC News that the game will be played on Thursday instead of Wednesday night. Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley later confirmed the game has been postponed.
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