“Our hearts go out to the people of New Orleans after the despicable attack that occurred in the early morning hours,” President Joe Biden said today in response to an accident in which a motorist plowed into New Year's Day crowds along Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
He continued: “I am sad with you.”
Biden thanked law enforcement “who stopped the attacker in his tracks,” before noting that the FBI was investigating the incident. He said the situation is “fluid” and that the investigation is “in the preliminary stage.”
The man believed to have driven the truck is a US citizen born in Texas. The suspect served in the Army for many years and also in the Army Reserve until a few years ago.
According to the president, he “posted videos on social media indicating that he was inspired by ISIS.” Biden confirmed that an ISIS flag was found in his car along with “possible explosives.” More explosives were found nearby.
He added that “law enforcement continues to search for co-conspirators” and there is “nothing additional to report at this time.”
Biden also said law enforcement and the intelligence community are investigating the explosion of a Tesla e-truck outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas this morning and whether there is any connection to the attack in New Orleans. The president said there was “no indication” so far of a connection between them.
At a news conference shortly afterward, Las Vegas-area law enforcement officials said they also had no indication of a connection between the two incidents.
