Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican, said on Thursday that New Orleans is "one of safest places on Earth" following a terror attack in the city that left at least 15 people dead.
Why It Matters
The FBI is investigating the incident that occurred on Bourbon Street during New Year's celebrations as an act of terrorism. A key line of inquiry is whether the attack was orchestrated or inspired by a foreign terrorist group. The suspect in the attack has been identified by the FBI as Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar.
It is the second attack on people over the holiday season in which a vehicle was used as a weapon. On December 20, a man drove a car into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, killing five people and injuring hundreds more.
In that case officials described the arrested suspect as a 50-year-old psychiatrist from Saudi Arabia with a history of anti-Islamic rhetoric and a sympathy for the far-right Alternative for Germany Party.
What To Know
Authorities completed processing the scene early Thursday morning with the last of the bodies removed, an unnamed official familiar with the matter told The Associated Press (AP). Bourbon Street will reopen later Thursday, according to the official.
At around 4:15 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Jabbar allegedly rammed a pickup truck into a crowd of revelers in the French Quarter. The truck eventually stopped, and Jabbar allegedly opened fire on responding police officers, injuring two before being killed in a shootout with law enforcement.
An ISIS flag, weapons and multiple IED bombs were found in the suspect's rented truck.
What People Are Saying
During a press conference on Thursday, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry spoke further about the incident, saying: "This type of event can happen in any city, and that's the tragedy of it."
"Right now, this is one of the safest places on earth. That doesn't mean that nothing can't happen...Today, we're going to have us a Sugar Bowl, we're going to enjoy ourselves, we're going to keep those who have lost loved ones in mind, and get into the business of this city and this great country," Landry said.
President Joe Biden also commented on the incident, saying: "The FBI is taking the lead in the investigation and is investigating this incident as an act of terrorism. I am grateful for the brave and swift response of local law enforcement in preventing even greater death and injury. I have directed my team to ensure every resource is available as federal, state, and local law enforcement work assiduously to get to the bottom of what happened as quickly as possible and to ensure that there is no remaining threat of any kind."
What's Next
The Sugar Bowl was supposed to kick off on Wednesday between the Southeastern Conference champions, the Georgia Bulldogs, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in New Orleans; however, it was postponed until Thursday afternoon in the wake of the attack.
Meanwhile, New Orleans is set to host two major events this year: Super Bowl LIX in February and Mardi Gras in March. The city faces security concerns surrounding these events following the New Year's attack. However, officials reassured the public that they are working to ensure those events are safe for everyone.
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