Witness details New Orleans terror attack
Zion Parsons lost one of his best friends, 18-year-old Nikyra Dedeaux, in the New Orleans terrorist attack as they were on Bourbon Street the morning of New Year’s Day. Dedeaux, a recent graduate of Harrison Central High School, was in New Orleans to welcome the new year with friends. Parsons recalled the terror from that early morning with LiveNOW from FOX’s Josh Breslow.
The man who plowed a truck down Bourbon Street in a New Year’s Day terrorist attack visited the city twice before and recorded video of the French Quarter with Meta smart glasses.
At a press briefing Sunday, FBI officials said 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Houston, also traveled to Cairo, Egypt, as well as Ontario, Canada, before the attack, but it’s not yet clear whether those trips were connected.
RELATED: Bulletin reportedly warns of Bourbon Street copycat attacks
The New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans killed 14 people – all from “blunt force injuries” – and injured about 30 more. Jabbar was killed in a shootout with police. As of Sunday, 13 people remained hospitalized, officials said.
The New Orleans coroner’s office has identified all 14 victims, with the youngest listed as 18 and the oldest 63. Most of the victims were in their 20s. One was 31-year-old Edward Pettifer of west London, according to London’s Metropolitan Police.
Scenes from a vigil held for people killed on Bourbon street are seen on January 04, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Authorities also found crude bombs in the French Quarter in an apparent attempt to cause more carnage. Two improvised explosive devices left in coolers several blocks apart were rendered safe at the scene. Other devices were determined to be nonfunctional.
RELATED: British man killed in Bourbon Street attack had ties to Royal Family: report
Jabbar purchased a cooler in Vidor, Texas, hours before the attack and gun oil from a store in Sulphur, Louisiana, investigators said.
Jabbar proclaimed his support for the Islamic State militant group in online videos posted hours before he struck. It was the deadliest IS-inspired assault on U.S. soil in years.
President Joe Biden planned to travel to New Orleans with first lady Jill Biden on Monday to “grieve with the families and community members impacted by the tragic attack.”
Heightened security ahead of Carnival season, Super Bowl
NOLA attack puts spotlight on inauguration security
The attack in New Orleans that killed at least 14 people has put a fresh spotlight on security plans around what is set to be an active month of events in the nation’s capital, culminating with President-elect Trump’s inauguration. Washington will be home to three high-profile events in the coming weeks: The Jan. 6 certification of election results, former President Carter’s state funeral Jan. 9, and the Jan. 20 inauguration and surrounding activities, including a Trump rally. Frank Roberson, CEO of the Black Rhino Group, joined LiveNOW from FOX to discuss.
New Orleans is enhancing security in the French Quarter ahead of Carnival season, which starts Monday, and the Super Bowl on Feb. 9.
Police have used multiple vehicles and barricades to block traffic at Bourbon and Canal streets since the attack. Other law enforcement agencies helped city officers provide extra security.
RELATED: New pictures show New Orleans terror suspect placing explosives ahead of deadly bloodbath
In a previous effort to protect the French Quarter, the city installed steel columns known as bollards to restrict vehicle access to Bourbon Street. The posts retracted to allow deliveries to bars and restaurants. They stopped working reliably after being gummed up by Mardi Gras beads, beer and other detritus.
When New Year’s Eve arrived, the bollards were gone. They will be replaced ahead of the Super Bowl, officials said.
