Thursday Briefing

A pickup truck crashed into a crowd in the French Quarter of New Orleans.Credit…Edmund D. Fountain for The New York Times

At least 15 people died in an attack in New Orleans

At least 15 people were killed and dozens more were injured in the early hours of New Year’s Day when a driver rammed a pickup truck into revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans — the deadliest act of mass murder in the U.S. in more than a year.

The suspect, a 42-year-old Army veteran from Texas, was identified by the F.B.I. as Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar. He died in a shootout with the police.

Jabbar, a lifelong resident of Texas, served several years in the Army and was honorably discharged. He recently converted to Islam and began behaving erratically, according to his ex-wife’s husband. An Islamic State flag, weapons and a potential explosive device were found in the truck that officials say he used in the attack. Officials said they were also investigating other potential bombs found in the French Quarter. Here’s what we know about him.

The investigation: The ISIS flag and potential bombs have raised the specter that the international terrorist group played a role in the attack. It has left a brutal legacy of death and destruction across the world.

White House: President Biden condemned the attack, citing the F.B.I. as saying that the driver posted videos on social media “mere hours” earlier “indicating that he was inspired by ISIS.”