By Blessing Chinagorom
The United Nations has reacted to the attack in New Orleans, where a driver struck crowd gathered to celebrate the New Year on 1st of January, which reportedly killing at least 15 people and injuring over 30 others.
UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres in a statement condemned this tragic incident and extended his condolences to families and loved ones of those who lost their lives and to Government and people of Louisiana and the United States and also wished a swift recovery to those persons injured.
The man suspected of crashing his pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street early Wednesday morning has been identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a resident of Texas, according to the FBI.
Police said Jabbar died after exchanging gunfire with officers. Two officers were injured and both are in stable condition.
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said Jabbar sped down Bourbon and was trying to “run over as many people as possible.” He was not driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and “hellbent on creating carnage,” Kirkpatrick added.
Surveillance video shows Jabbar driving onto the sidewalk by going around a police car that was there to block traffic.
The FBI said it was investigating the incident “as an act of terrorism.” Also revealed that Jabbar was an army veteran with an honorable discharge. 
Investigators said they found an ISIS flag in the vehicle, but the terror group has not claimed responsibility for the attack. Officials are looking into whether Jabbar had any accomplices or potential affiliations with terrorist organizations.
According to the FBI, he was driving a Ford pickup truck, which appears to have been rented. They’re trying to figure out how he came into possession of the vehicle.
Thirty-five individuals were transported to local hospitals, with dozens being treated at University Medical Center, and others at Touro Hospital, Ochsner Baptist and Tulane Hospital. Officials said some of them were fighting for their lives. By 5 p.m., the death toll had risen to 15 people.
Police believe the majority of the victims are from New Orleans, though the exact number of locals versus out-of-town visitors remains unclear. They said those trying to reach loved ones who might have been in the area should call 311 instead of 911.
President Joe Biden said he’s been briefed by federal law enforcement, Homeland Security and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “I am grateful for the brave and swift response of local law enforcement in preventing even greater death and injury.
“I have directed my team to ensure every resource is available as federal, state, and local law enforcement work assiduously to get to the bottom of what happened as quickly as possible and to ensure that there is no remaining threat of any kind,” Biden said in a press release.
Gov. Landry declared a state of emergency in Orleans Parish to aid with response efforts. “We will not allow heinous acts of crime such as the one this morning to dampen the Louisiana spirit and ruin our way of life.
“This administration will not tolerate one of the jewel cities of the state to remain with these conditions. This state of emergency is a necessity in order to ensure that every single person, place, and street across the city of New Orleans is the most safe and secure in the world,” Landry said.
