NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed strong condemnation on Thursday regarding the alleged ‘terror’ attack in New Orleans that resulted in 15 fatalities.
In his post on X, he said, “We strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack in New Orleans. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. May they find strength and solace as they heal from this tragedy.”
On Wednesday, an army veteran with an Islamic State flag in a pickup truck drove into a crowd of New Year’s celebrants in New Orleans, resulting in 15 deaths and numerous injuries.
FBI identified the attacker as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, aged 42, a Texas-based American citizen. Records indicated his previous employment as a Houston real estate agent and his military service as an IT specialist.
Anne Kirkpatrick, the police superintendent, called Jabbar a “terrorist”, while the FBI confirmed discovering “an Isis flag” in the vehicle.
US President Joe Biden termed the attack “despicable” and revealed that Jabbar had published online videos before the incident “indicating that he was inspired by Isis.”
Biden additionally mentioned that authorities were investigating possible connections between this incident and a subsequent explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck near a Donald Trump-owned hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday, which resulted in one casualty, whilst noting no established links thus far.
FBI agent Alethea Duncan said on Wednesday that investigations were continuing, noting that authorities “do not believe that Jabbar was solely responsible.”
