Car crashes into crowd: Coroner: 15 dead in New Orleans

After the suspected terrorist attack in New Orleans, the death toll has risen to 15. This is reported by several US media outlets, citing information from the city’s medical examiner, Dwight McKenna. Accordingly, the number of deaths could rise even further.

It will take several days to autopsy all victims, McKenna said, according to reports. Their names will only be released once all autopsies have been completed and relatives have been informed. The medical examiner’s office is working with local police, federal investigators from the FBI and the Border Patrol.

Perpetrator chose popular nightlife district for his attack

In the US southern metropolis, a few hours after midnight on New Year’s morning, a man drove a pickup truck through the crowd of partying passers-by in the popular French Quarter nightlife district. According to the police, in addition to the numerous fatalities, there were also 35 injured. The perpetrator exchanged fire with police officers after the trip. Two of them were injured and the perpetrator himself died in the fight.

At noon (local time), the FBI published details about the possible background to the alleged attack: According to this, investigators found a flag of the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS), which has already claimed responsibility for several attacks with vehicles, in the vehicle involved. Weapons were also found in the pickup truck. In addition, several suspicious discoveries were made in the vehicle and in the area, which could be homemade explosive devices. It is currently being examined whether these could really have been ignited.

According to the FBI, the perpetrator named Shamsud-Din J. is a 42-year-old US citizen from Texas. They said they were looking for possible accomplices.