The name of the driver in this morning's deadly truck ramming incident in New Orleans that killed several people and injured many has been released. He has been identified by law enforcement officials via NBC News as Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42. He reportedly lost his life during an exchange of gunfire with police.
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The FBI is closely examining Jabbar's background, checking for any possible links to terrorists or terrorist organizations. The investigation is presently ongoing.
The Death Toll Has Now Risen To 15 People
It was initially believed that 10 people were killed. Now the death toll has been upped to 15.
Per the outlet, "According to preliminary information, Jabbar, a U.S. citizen born in Texas, had a black flag affixed to the hitch of the pickup truck he allegedly drove into the crowd. Officials are investigating whether that flag is related to the terrorist group ISIS, two senior law enforcement officials said."
Local and federal officials are allegedly treating this as both a crime scene and a terrorist attack.
Potential Explosive Devices Are Being Analyzed
"A potential IED was in the truck, and other potential IEDs were located in the French Quarter, the FBI said," according to NBC News. IEDs are improvised explosive devices.
No further IEDs have been pinpointed in addition to the two that were found. "'What we've done in conjunction with our local and state partners, we've gone through and done a sweep to identify anything we thought was suspicious, and we have not,' Alethea Duncan, the FBI assistant special agent in charge said at a news conference," per NBC News.
"'We're leaning in. We will be relentless, and we will do everything that it takes to render real justice,'" New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said during a news conference," according to NBC News.
Sugar Bowl College Football Game Delayed
In related developments, the Sugar Bowl pitting Georgia against Notre Dame, which was originally scheduled for tonight at the Superdome, has been reportedly pushed back on January 2 while officials continue to investigate the alarming truck incident today that claimed several lives and injured many as well.
