Thursday Briefing: An Attack in New Orleans

A man rammed a pickup into crowds on Bourbon Street in New Orleans on New Year’s Day, killing at least 10 people and injuring about 35 others before being killed by the police, officials said. The F.B.I. is investigating the attack as an act of terrorism. Follow our live updates.

The suspect has been identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran from Texas. An Islamic State flag, weapons and a “potential” improvised explosive were found in the vehicle, the F.B.I. said, and other potential bombs were also found in the French Quarter. Investigators said they were seeking possible connections between him and terrorist organizations.

The combination of a truck used as a weapon, along with the bomb, led investigators to believe that the perpetrator’s goal was to cause additional civilian casualties.

How it unfolded: Around 3:15 a.m., as crowds were raucously celebrating the end of 2024 in the city’s historic French Quarter, a man drove a truck at high speed into the crowd before crashing and opening fire, officials said. Jabbar died in a shootout with the police. Two officers were shot and are in stable condition.

Four-wheeled weapons: Vehicle-based attacks against crowds have a long history. Cars and trucks are easier to get ahold of than guns or explosives and require minimal training.