Image source, EPA

Yesterday, the FBI confirmed in a statement that a flag for the Islamic State (IS) group had been found inside the truck that was driven into a large crowd in New Orleans.

Authorities now say they are investigating a possible link between the suspect in the attack, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, and the IS group.

The group made a rapid rise about a decade ago, taking swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq. Now, the group has membership in several continents, but has a dwindling core leadership based in Syria.

The majority of attacks carried out in the group's name happen in sub-Saharan Africa, with a branch called IS-Khorasan Province (ISKP) operating in the Middle East and Europe.

At its peak, IS incited mass casualty attacks in Europe, including the Bataclan concert hall attack in Paris in 2015, where 130 people were killed.

The group uses social media to incite violence, most recently calling for revenge for Israel's continued war in Gaza.

Almost nothing is known about the current leaders of the group.

• Read Frank Gardner's analysis of the IS group, 10 years on since its peak

Image source, FBI

We've been reporting today that Shamsud-Din Jabbar, an Army veteran and US citizen from Texas, has been identified by the FBI as the suspect in Wednesday's attack in New Orleans.

According to a now-removed LinkedIn profile, the 42-year-old had worked in various roles in the US Army, including in human resources and IT, before he was discharged.

He was deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010.

He studied at Georgia State University from 2015 to 2017, graduating with a degree in computer information systems.

Jabbar was married twice. His first marriage ended in 2012 and his second lasted from 2017 to 2022.

He also appears to have worked in real estate, but his licence expired in 2021. He had a criminal record, relating to traffic offences and theft.

A flag associated with the Islamic State (IS) group was found in the vehicle he was driving and the FBI said it was investigating what affiliations Jabbar may have had with terrorist groups.

• What we know about the New Orleans attacker

Image source, USA Today Sports

The vice president of the New Orleans City Council spoke with our colleagues at Newsday earlier this morning, and shared how residents in the city are "devastated" after a man drove a truck into a crowd celebrating the new year.

Bourbon Street, where the attack took place, "is synonymous with New Orleans, Mardi Gras and celebrations", JP Morrell says.

He explains that the city had steadily been building up its protections after 9/11, working with the federal government to bolster against potential attacks.

"That is partially why [this attack] was so jarring because it wasn't as if we were caught unawares not knowing something like this could happen."

One such measure that had been implemented was a bollard system to block vehicles' access in the middle of busy pedestrian streets.

Morrell explains this morning that that system was in the process of being repaired ahead of the Super Bowl when the attack happened.

The project to remove and replace the steel columns along about eight blocks of Bourbon Street began in November, according to the city website.

Authorities have not confirmed whether the intersection the truck sped through was actively under construction or said if the replacement project created a vulnerability.

One of the developments that authorities are looking into is whether a separate incident that occurred on Wednesday, where a Tesla Cybertruck exploded in Las Vegas outside the Trump Hotel, could be linked to the New Orleans attack.

President Biden said yesterday that, so far, no link has been determined.

Here's what else you need to know about that incident:

• The driver of the vehicle was killed and seven people have minor injuries
• The fire occurred at around 08:40 PT (15:40 GMT) on New Year's Day
• Gas cannisters and firework mortars were found in the vehicle
• The cybertruck was rented in Colorado and arrived in Las Vegas less than two hours before it was detonated in front of the hotel near a glass entrance
• The FBI says it's looking into whether the incident might be an act of terrorism - they added that thus far, there is no evidence this incident was related to the IS group
• Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Police Department says they were examining whether the incident could be connected to the one in New Orleans

Image source, Getty Images

Donald Trump has criticised US authorities and law enforcement agencies in the wake of the deadly New Orleans attack, saying they are "ineffective" and there is "virtually non-existent leadership".

While the president-elect did not directly address Wednesday's attack, he took to Truth Social a few hours ago to allege that authorities - like the FBI and the Department of Justice - "have not done their job" in protecting Americans.

He adds: "The CIA must get involved, NOW, before it is too late."

"The USA is breaking down - A violent erosion of safety, national security, and democracy is taking place all across our nation," he writes.

"Only strength and powerful leadership will stop it. See you on January 20th. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

Carl Nasman
Reporting from New Orleans

Image source, Reuters

The French Quarter behind me is still an active crime scene.

Authorities are looking to address some open questions, particularly whether or not the suspect acted alone. The suggestion of co-conspirators was put out there - investigators are fairly certain that there might have been other people involved.

That theory initially came from some CCTV footage that appeared to show individuals around the area where improvised explosive devices were discovered. We understand now that those people are no longer of interest in this case.

The investigation is also continuing to other areas, including a rental property two miles (3.2km) away, where it's believed that the suspect may have stayed the night and also might have built some of the explosive materials.

Authorities in Houston, Texas, where the suspect is from, are looking into his property.

Meanwhile, there is unease in the city of New Orleans. This is not the new year's celebration this city was hoping for.

Already though, we're seeing people coming back out onto the streets and doing what this city does best, which is have fun.

The next big test for New Orleans will be Thursday afternoon's Sugar Bowl college football game, where 68,000 people are expected to attend.

Not just a test of the city's mood, but the next test of security.

Image source, Getty Images

The names of the 15 people killed in the New Year's Day attack in New Orleans have not yet been released by authorities.

So far, one person has been identified among the dead as a former Princeton University football star named Martin "Tiger" Bech, according to the college's athletics department.

"There was no more appropriate nickname of a Princeton player I coached," Bob Surace, head football coach, has said in a statement.

"He was a 'Tiger' in every way - a ferocious competitor with endless energy, a beloved teammate and a caring friend."

The University of Georgia's president says one of its students has been critically injured, while the Israeli government says two nationals are among those hurt.

Police say it appears that the victims were mainly locals from New Orleans, even though many tourists were visiting for New Year's Eve celebrations and the now-postponed Sugar Bowl, part of the American football college play-offs.

Image source, Reuters

• Fifteen people are dead and at least 35 more injured after a man from Texas named Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a pick-up truck into a large crowd celebrating the new year in New Orleans
• FBI and state officials say an Islamic State group flag was found in the vehicle and they believe Jabbar did not act alone
• Citing security briefings, President Joe Biden said Jabbar had indicated he was inspired by IS group and expressed a "desire to kill" in videos posted online
• Authorities were also investigating the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas which happened hours later - but Biden added that no link between the two incidents has been identified yet
• Investigators have combed Bourbon Street - the scene of the attack in New Orleans' popular French Quarter - for evidence, as FBI agents and police launched searches in Louisiana and other states

We'll be following this story closely and providing updates from our correspondents in New Orleans and our teams in London. Stick with us.

Bourbon Street is a well-known nightlife and tourist hotspot that is filled with restaurants, bars and clubs with live music.

It is within New Orleans' French Quarter, a lively area that attracts tourists and locals, especially to celebrate New Year.

It was established by the French in 1718, and the original grid of streets designed back then is at the heart of what draws visitors to the city.

Every year, upwards of a million people flock to its famous Mardi Gras carnival and parade in the spring, famous for the strings of colourful beads worn by party-goers.

Image source, Reuters

We've just seen an update from the FBI, external on their investigation into the New Orleans attack.

The FBI say their special agents and law enforcement partners are "currently conducting a number of court-authorised search warrants in New Orleans and other states".

The update also says the FBI's evidence response team is continuing to "gather all relevant evidence" at the crime scene.

By early Thursday morning the FBI plans "to turn over the Bourbon Street crime scene to local authorities".

Anyone with information, photos, or video should call the FBI at 1-800- CALL-FBI or visit the website www.fbi.gov/bourbonstreetattack, external, the update says.

Image source, Getty Images

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has been speaking to the media about the New Orleans attack and tells NBC News, external she can say "with some certainty that there are multiple people who are involved".

Investigators earlier said they believe the New Orleans suspect was not "solely responsible" for the attack.

She also tells NBC News that explosive devices associated with the attack are suspected by investigators to have been made in an Airbnb rented by the individuals involved. The authorities have not made any other arrests in connection with the attack.

Murrill has suggested that the Sugar Bowl should be delayed further, until Friday.

The annual university football game, which was scheduled for Wednesday evening in the city, has for now been postponed until Thursday.

Image source, FBI

As we've been reporting, the FBI has named the assailant as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar - an Army veteran and US citizen from Texas.

According to a now-removed LinkedIn profile, Jabbar had worked in various roles in the US Army, including in human resources and IT, before he was discharged. He deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010.

In a YouTube video posted in 2020, Jabbar said his time in the military had taught him "the meaning of great service and what it means to be responsive and take everything seriously, dotting i's and crossing t's to make sure that things go off without a hitch", CBS reports.

He studied at Georgia State University from 2015 to 2017, graduating with a degree in Computer Information Systems.

CBS reports he was married twice. His first marriage ended in 2012 and his second lasted from 2017 to 2022.

He also appears to have worked in real estate, holding a licence that expired in 2021.

Jabbar had a criminal record, relating to traffic offences and theft.

• Read more on this story by following this link

It's approaching 22:00 local time on Wednesday (04:00 GMT on Thursday) in New Orleans and the Sun has set on a New Year's Day that has shocked people in the city and across the world.

There's still a police presence around the scene of the attack and here are some of the latest photos we've received from the Bourbon Street area.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

Bourbon Street, where 15 people were killed in a car attack on Wednesday, is one of the most distinctive roads in the United States.

Party-goers spill out from the dozens of bars and clubs onto the pavement, dancing and drinking well through the night and into the early morning hours - an outdoor revelry that would be considered illegal in most other parts of the country.

It is located in the cobblestone-paved neighbourhood called the French Quarter, and up and down the street are signs of of New Orleans' deep connection to its European roots. The narrow road is lined with buildings featuring Spanish-style balconies.

During the city's most exuberant celebrations, such as Mardi Gras, tourists are known to throw strings of brightly-coloured beads from the balconies above as parades and marching bands wind through the crowded street below.

And though vehicles do sometimes drive through the area, traffic is usually sparse, as the space is taken up by patrons walking from bar to bar on foot.

Turo, the car-sharing app through which the trucks used in the New Orleans attack and the explosion at the Trump Hotel were rented, has said the company is "actively partnering with" authorities as they investigate both incidents.

"We do not believe that either renter involved in the Las Vegas and New Orleans attacks had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat," Turo said in a statement.

"We are heartbroken by the violence perpetrated in New Orleans and Las Vegas, and our prayers are with the victims and families"

Investigators are looking into whether the two incidents are linked.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

If you are just joining us, here's what we know so far about the New Orleans vehicle attack that took place early on New Year's Day.

• Fifteen people were killed and at least 35 injured after a man - identified as US citizen Shamsud-Din Jabbar - drove a pick-up truck at high speed into large crowds in the French quarter of New Orleans
• The FBI say an Islamic State (IS) flag was found in the vehicle and that they are investigating the attack as an "act of terrorism". Investigators who briefed President Joe Biden say the suspect uploaded videos to social media "mere hours before the attack" indicating he was inspired by IS and had a "desire to kill"
• Hours after the attack, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, killing the driver and injuring seven people. Biden says investigators are looking into whether the explosion is linked to what happened in New Orleans, but there is "nothing to report... at this time"
• Authorities are also investigating if the attacker in New Orleans had help, particularly in placing suspected explosive devices, which were found in the pick-up truck and elsewhere in the area
• The president has called the attack "despicable" and said he was grieving with the families of the victims

Ana Faguy

Image source, Getty Images

Victims of Wednesday's attack in New Orleans are starting to be identified. Among them is a former university football star.

Princeton University's athletics department said their ex-football player Martin "Tiger" Bech had been killed.

"There was no more appropriate nickname of a Princeton player I coached," Bob Surace, head football coach, said in a statement.

"He was a 'Tiger' in every way - a ferocious competitor with endless energy, a beloved teammate and a caring friend."

Image source, PA Media

The UK's prime minister has described the attack in New Orleans as "horrific" and "shockingly violent", and has expressed condolences to the victims' families.

"My thoughts are with the victims, their families, the emergency responders and the people of the United States at this tragic time," said Sir Keir Starmer.

International condemnation for the attack has poured in over the past day.

"There is no excuse for such violence," said the European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kalla, before adding "we stand in full solidarity with the victims and their families during this tragic time".

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned how the attack stemmed from "senseless hatred" while French President Emmanuel Marcon said his people "share the sorrow" of the attack in a city "so dear to the hearts of the French".

Bernd Debusmann Jr
reporting from New Orleans

There's still an extremely heavy police presence in the area where the incident took place in the early hours of the morning.

I'm currently on Canal Street, just a few feet from the corner of Bourbon Street - where video shows Shamsud-Din Jabbar taking a hard right turn around a police car and ploughing into a crowd of people.

From where I'm standing, I can count 20 or so marked police cars, in addition to black SUVs and a large white van being used by investigators.

The entire area is cordoned off with yellow police tape.

While the scene has attracted a small crowd of curious onlookers, business in the wider area seems to be as normal, with trickles of revellers stepping in and out of bars at the beginning of the evening.

Across the street, a few people are window shopping at Foot Locker, commenting on the trainers available.

A Michael Jackson impersonator is also moonwalking on the pavement, just a few feet from the police tape.

As we've been reporting, in the early hours of Wednesday morning a man drove a pick-up truck into a crowd of people who were celebrating the new year in New Orleans' famed French Quarter party district.

Ten people were killed in the attack and dozens more were injured in what the FBI is investigating as an "act of terrorism".

This short video explains how the night unfolded, through the words of witnesses and law enforcement officials on the ground in Louisiana city: