A tragic vehicle attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day left 14 dead and many injured, with investigations ongoing into the suspect’s background.
New Orleans: A shocking incident unfolded on New Year’s Day when a pickup truck drove into a crowd, resulting in 14 fatalities, including a British man named Edward Pettifer. He was just 31 years old and died from blunt force injuries. His family is being supported by the Met Police back in London.
In addition to the fatalities, around 35 others were hurt. The suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, is believed to have ties to the Islamic State. The FBI and local police are diving deep into the investigation.
So, what exactly happened? At around 3:15 AM, a white Ford truck sped onto Bourbon Street, hitting people celebrating the New Year. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with bodies scattered everywhere. After crashing, Jabbar got out and started shooting at police, who quickly responded and shot him dead.
Authorities labeled the attack as “very intentional,” indicating that Jabbar was determined to cause harm. They also discovered explosive devices he had set up in the area, although it’s unclear if he intended to use them.
Jabbar had a complicated background. He was a US Army veteran from Texas who had served in Afghanistan. He rented the truck from a car-sharing service and had posted videos online expressing support for extremist groups. His family mentioned that he had returned to his Muslim faith in recent years, but they were shocked by his actions.
Among the victims, Edward Pettifer stood out. His family expressed their heartbreak over his loss, describing him as a wonderful person who will be deeply missed. Leaders from around the world, including UK officials, condemned the attack, calling it horrific and expressing condolences to the victims’ families.
As the investigation continues, many are left grappling with the aftermath of this tragic event, hoping for answers and healing in the community.
