New Orleans truck horror suspect identified after 10 killed in 'evil' New Year's attack

A total of 10 people were killed and 35 were left injured after the driver rammed the vehicle into the crowd in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

In a statement, the FBI said: "Today, at approximately 3.15 am, an individual drove a pickup truck into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing at least 10 and injuring dozens of others.

"After hitting the crowd, he exited the vehicle and fired upon local law enforcement.

"Law enforcement returned fire and the subject was pronounced deceased at the scene. Two law enforcement officers were injured and transported to a local hospital.

"The subject has been identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a US citizen from Texas.

"He was driving a Ford pickup truck, which appears to have been rented, and we are working to confirm how the subject came into possession of the vehicle.

"An Isis flag was located in the vehicle, and the FBI is working to determine the subject's potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organisations.

"Weapons and a potential IED were located in the subject’s vehicle. Other potential IEDs were also located in the French Quarter.

"The FBI’s special agent bomb technicians are working with our law enforcement partners to determine if any of these devices are viable, and they will work to render those devices safe.

"The FBI is the lead investigative agency, and we are working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism. We are aggressively running down all leads to identify any possible associates of the subject."

Responding to the horrific attack, US President Joe Biden said: "I have been continually briefed since early this morning regarding the horrific incident that occurred in New Orleans overnight.

"The FBI is taking the lead in the investigation and is investigating this incident as an act of terrorism.

"I will continue to receive updates throughout the day, and I will have more to say as we have further information to share.

"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."

Before the FBI confirmed the suspect was a US citizen, Donald Trump appeared to suggest that Din Jabbar was connected to "foreign criminals".

Trump, who will replace Biden in the White House on January 20, wrote: "When I said that the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country, that statement was constantly refuted by Democrats and the Fake News Media, but it turned out to be true."

Without directly attributing blame, Trump added: "Our hearts are with all of the innocent victims and their loved ones, including the brave officers of the New Orleans Police Department."