Authorities were chasing down more than 400 tips since the deadly New Year’s Day truck attack that killed at least 14 people and wounded dozens but so far believe the attack was the act of a lone wolf, FBI officials said Thursday.
The suspect in the attack early Wednesday, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was fatally shot by police at the scene. FBI deputy assistant director Christopher Raia, speaking at a news briefing Thursday, said the preliminary investigation indicated that Jabbar had initially planned on hurting family members but opted instead for an attack that would be a bigger public display.
Authorities also are investigating a possible act of terror in Las Vegas after a Tesla Cybertruck parked near the Trump International Hotel exploded Wednesday, killing one peson and injuring several others. President Joe Biden said federal authorities are investigating whether there may be a link between the two attacks.
“At this point, there is no definitive link between the attack here in New Orleans and the one in Las Vegas,” Raia said.
On the streets of New Orleans, tourists and workers filled the storied French Quarter restaurants and shops Thursday as the city awaited the reopening of Bourbon Street. The FBI closed the popular tourist destination, the beating heart of New Orleans, on Wednesday for the investigation.
Federal officials turned the street back over to local control early Thursday and local authorities hoped to reopen it before the postponed Sugar Bowl football game kicks off later Thursday at the nearby 70,000-seat Superdome.