United News of Bangladesh

The suspect involved in the car-ramming attack in New Orleans has been identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old US military veteran from Texas. According to the FBI, Jabbar deliberately drove a pick-up truck into a crowd of New Year’s revellers on Bourbon Street, killing at least 15 people and injuring many others. The suspect was killed in a subsequent police shootout. The FBI is investigating the attack as a potential act of “terrorism” but has not specified the evidence behind this classification. Authorities believe that Jabbar may not have acted alone in the attack on this popular tourist destination. Jabbar, a US citizen, rented the F-150 Lightning electric truck used in the attack through the car rental website Turo. This website was also connected to another incident in Las Vegas, where a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside a Trump hotel, though it remains unclear whether the two incidents are linked. 15 killed in US truck attack Jabbar served in the US military from 2007 until 2020 and had a deployment to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010. He earned a degree in computer information systems from Georgia State University in 2017. The FBI discovered an ISIL (ISIS) flag inside the truck, prompting an investigation into any potential links between Jabbar and terrorist organisations. New Orleans City Council President Helena Moreno stated that Jabbar was wearing full military gear, and police described his actions as intentional. Court records show Jabbar had financial troubles in 2022, including falling behind on house payments by $27,000 and accumulating $16,000 in credit card debt, while going through a divorce. He expressed a desire to quickly finalise the divorce and avoid foreclosure. Jabbar had worked for consulting firm Deloitte, earning around $10,000 a month. The company confirmed that he served in a staff-level role since being hired in 2021 and is cooperating with authorities. Colin Clarke from the Soufan Center remarked, “There’s a number of red flags when you look at this [attack], including the attacker’s age – not really the kind of prototype for an individual to be radicalised. The fact that he was in the US military, so I think it bears caution for sure.”   Source: With inputs from Al Jazeera  

At least 15 people were killed and dozens injured in New Orleans, United States, after a man drove a pick-up truck into New Year’s Eve crowds in an attack authorities have linked to ISIL (ISIS). The incident occurred amid ongoing New Year’s celebrations on Bourbon Street, known for its bars and music venues, which were packed with partygoers at the time. US President Joe Biden stated on Wednesday that the FBI informed him the suspect had shared videos on social media, showing he was inspired by the Middle East-based militant group. What we know about a vehicle attack on pedestrians in New Orleans ? “To everyone in New Orleans who is mourning, I mourn with you,” President Biden said from Camp David. “Our nation stands with you in grief.” Biden also mentioned ongoing investigations into any connections between this incident and the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck near a hotel owned by President-elect Donald Trump in Las Vegas on Wednesday. However, he said no link had been confirmed yet. The FBI identified the suspect as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar and revealed that an ISIL flag was found attached to his truck. Authorities are exploring Jabbar’s affiliations with terrorist organizations, as stated by Alethea Duncan, assistant special agent at the New Orleans FBI. “We do not believe Jabbar acted alone,” Duncan said, adding that authorities were investigating his associates and connections. Explosive devices were also discovered in the French Quarter but have been neutralized. SKorea air crash investigators extract black box data as grieving families mourn the victims The attack occurred around 3:15 am (09:15 GMT) at Canal and Bourbon streets in New Orleans’s historic French Quarter, a lively area crowded with pedestrians. According to the New Orleans Police Department, Jabbar struck multiple people with his vehicle before crashing. He then opened fire at responding officers and was fatally shot by police. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said Jabbar, a US citizen and army veteran, was focused on causing as much harm as possible. Two officers were injured in the shootout but are in stable condition. Videos posted online captured scenes of panic as people fled the area after the attack. Source: Al Jazeera

Thousands of people marched on Friday in support of a Canadian Muslim family run over and killed by a man driving a pick-up truck last Sunday in an attack the police described as a hate crime, reported The Indian Express. The four victims, spanning three generations, were killed when Nathaniel Veltman, 20, ran into them while they were out for an evening walk near their home. A fifth family member, a 9-year-old boy, survived. People in London, Ontario marched about 7 kilometers (4.4 miles) from the spot where the family was struck down to a nearby mosque, the site close to where Veltman was arrested by police. Some carried placards with messages reading ‘Hate has no home here’, ‘Love over hate.’ Similar events were held in other cities in Ontario, Canada’s most populous province.