An Airbnb where the suspect who allegedly drove into a crowd at a New Year's celebration in New Orleans was staying burned down, according to local news reports.
Newsweek reached out to the New Orleans Fire Department via phone and email for comment. Newsweek also reached out to the Airbnb communication team via email.
Why It Matters
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, has been named the suspect in the New Year's Day attack on Bourbon Street that killed at least 10 people and injured 30 early Wednesday morning.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism. A key line of inquiry is whether the attack was orchestrated or inspired by a foreign terrorist group.
What To Know
Nola.com reported that people were evacuated from the St. Roch area in New Orleans Wednesday morning after a fire broke out at an Airbnb. The site reported that law enforcement officials, as well as bomb squad detectives, were called to 1329 Mandeville Street. The Airbnb is about a mile and a half from where the attack took place.
Newsweek did not find a listed Airbnb at this address, but there are multiple in the area, including one across the street.
Local news station WDSU reported that a woman who lived near the fire arrived home around 5 a.m., and the fire department was already in the area.
The attack occurred around 4:15 a.m. EST in the French Quarter, one of New Orleans' busiest areas, during the city's New Year's Eve celebrations.
The New Orleans Police Department said the suspect opened fire on officers after the vehicle came to a stop. He was driving a Ford pickup truck, which officials said appeared to be rented.
Officers returned fire, and the suspect was struck, police said in a news release. He was subsequently pronounced dead.
New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the male suspect "was trying to run over as many people as he could." She said the incident was the result of "intentional behavior."
An ISIS flag was found in the vehicle, according to the FBI. The bureau is working to determine the suspect's potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations. Weapons and a potential IED were also located in the vehicle. Other potential IEDs were also located in the French Quarter, according to a press release from the FBI.
Jabbar was a Houston resident. In 2005, he was charged with driving with a suspended license and in 2002, he was charged with misdemeanor theft, according to records previously reviewed by Newsweek.
What People Are Saying
The woman who spoke to WDSU said law enforcement didn't specifically tell her the fire was related to the French Quarter attacks but that the suspect could have rented the house. She also said police were looking for explosive devices.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, on X, formerly Twitter: "A horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street earlier this morning. Please join Sharon and I in praying for all the victims and first responders on scene. I urge all near the scene to avoid the area."
President Joe Biden, in a statement: "I will continue to receive updates throughout the day, and I will have more to say as we have further information to share. In the meantime, my heart goes out to the victims and their families who were simply trying to celebrate the holiday. There is no justification for violence of any kind, and we will not tolerate any attack on any of our nation's communities."
What's Next
The FBI will be the lead agency in the investigation. Anyone with information that can assist is asked to contact the FBI's New Orleans Bureau by calling (504) 816-3000 or by emailing tips@fbi.gov.
The public is being asked to avoid Bourbon Street north from Canal to Dumaine Street, east to Royal Street, and west to Dauphine Street until further notice.
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