15 killed in ‘ISIS inspired’ New Orleans terrorist attack: As it happened

Law enforcement officials have searched an Airbnb rental in New Orleans believed to be connected to the manufacture of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) tied to the Bourbon Street terror attack, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill revealed in an interview with NBC News’ Lester Holt.

“We know that these individuals had rented the house and were using it for that purpose,” Murrill stated. 

Murrill also addressed the ongoing security concerns in New Orleans, including the delay of the Sugar Bowl football game, originally scheduled for Wednesday but postponed to Thursday following the attack. 

“I would like to see it delayed at least another day,” she said. “If they asked my opinion, I would tell them that.”

Despite calling for an additional delay, Murrill emphasized that she believes “the community is safe,” citing the robust law enforcement presence in the city in the aftermath of the attack.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill emphasized the state’s death penalty policy in a statement on X, suggesting that her office would seek the ultimate punishment if additional suspects are identified.

“In Louisiana, we have the death penalty, and we will carry it out!” Murrill wrote, underscoring the state’s firm stance on capital punishment in cases involving acts of terror and mass casualties.

The primary suspect in the attack, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar from Texas, was killed in a shootout with law enforcement shortly after his violent rampage. However, investigators believe he may not have acted alone, raising the possibility of additional arrests in the ongoing investigation.

In a statement posted on X, FBI Houston announced that the court-authorized search of a property near Hugh Road and Crescent Peak Drive is still ongoing, with SWAT and Bomb Technicians working on-site. No arrests have been made, and FBI personnel are expected to remain at the scene for several more hours.

The vehicle used in the New Orleans attack and the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas were both rented through the online platform Turo, the company confirmed in a statement to CNN.

“We are actively partnering with law enforcement authorities as they investigate both incidents,” a spokesperson said. “We do not believe that either renter involved in the Las Vegas and New Orleans attacks had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat.”

Federal and local law enforcement officers are conducting a thorough search of a home in north Harris County, Texas, believed to be connected to the suspect in the New Orleans attack.

Within hours of the incident, FBI agents and personnel from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) swarmed a property on Hugh Road near Crescent Peak Drive. A federal search warrant had been secured, and specialized teams were deployed to the site.

The FBI confirmed that the search was connected to the New Orleans investigation but withheld specific details, citing the ongoing nature of their inquiries. Nearby residents were asked to evacuate, and reporters were moved to a designated staging area.

Law enforcement officers stand behind a SWAT vehicle near a location in Houston, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025 ©  Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle via AP

Investigators are examining the property for evidence that could confirm suspicions that Shamsud-Din Jabbar did not act alone. The operation, which included an HCSO SWAT vehicle and multiple investigators, is expected to last several hours as authorities comb through the property for clues linked to the planning and execution of the attack.

Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the 42-year-old Texas-born man suspected in the deadly truck attack on New Year’s Day in New Orleans, had a notable history of military service, federal investigators revealed. Jabbar served in the US Army for 13 years, including a deployment to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010. His roles included working as a human resources specialist and an IT specialist. He left active duty in 2015 with the rank of staff sergeant and continued his service in the Army Reserve until 2020.

Before his Army career, Jabbar briefly enlisted in the US Navy in 2004 under the Delayed Entry Program, but his service lasted only a month, according to Navy officials. Raised in Beaumont, Texas, Jabbar also pursued civilian careers after leaving the military, including a stint as a real estate agent and a manager of Blue Meadow Properties LLC, a Texas-based company whose license expired in 2022.

Investigators have been interviewing people who knew the New Orleans attacker, but they have not identified any additional suspects thus far, CNN reports, citing a law enforcement source.

President Joe Biden stated that hours before the New Orleans terror attack, the suspect posted videos suggesting he was “inspired” by Islamic State (IS, ISIS) terrorist group.

“The FBI also reported to me that mere hours before the attack, he posted videos on social media indicating that he's inspired by ISIS, expressing a desire to kill — desire to kill,” Biden said.

The FBI has confirmed that the perpetrator was an American citizen born in Texas, according to Biden. “He served in the United States Army on active duty for many years and also served in the Army Reserve until a few years ago,” he said.

“The ISIS flag was found in his rented vehicle, which he used to conduct this attack. Possible explosives were found in the vehicle as well, and more explosives were discovered nearby,” the US leader added.

READ MORE: FBI probing ‘possible connection’ between New Orleans attack and Cybertruck blast – Biden

US President Joe Biden has addressed the nation, outlining federal authorities’ efforts to investigate both the New Orleans terrorist attack that left at least 15 dead and the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas.

Biden highlighted the importance of determining whether the two incidents are linked, but cautioned the public against drawing conclusions prematurely, noting that the investigations remain active and evolving.

”We’re tracking the explosion of a cyber truck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. Law enforcement and the intelligence community are investigating this as well, including whether there’s any possible connection with the attack in New Orleans,” the outgoing US president said.

People initially believed to have planted explosive devices across the French Quarter of New Orleans have been ruled out as suspects by the FBI, NBC reported, citing a senior law enforcement official. Three men and a woman had been identified as potential suspects during initial analysis of surveillance footage, earlier media reports suggested.