Washington Federal security agencies were instructed by President Joe Biden on Thursday to keep supporting law enforcement at all levels in their investigation into the terrorist assault in New Orleans, where a pickup truck driver crashed through crowds on Bourbon Street, killing at least 14 people and wounding many more.
According to the White House, Biden met with Vice President Kamala Harris, Attorney General Merrick Garland, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and a number of other senior officials to discuss the most recent advancements in the attack investigation.
According to a White House statement, Biden instructed the authorities to keep providing federal, state, and local law enforcement with all the resources they need to finish their investigations as soon as possible.
Legislators from Louisiana widely denounced the act, and it sparked increased security in Washington, D.C., ahead of a number of high-profile events in the days ahead, including President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a veteran of the United States military stationed in Houston, Texas, was recognized by authorities as the suspect. After a shootout with police, he was killed.
Christopher Raia, deputy assistant director of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, stated Thursday that Jabbar is thought to have acted alone.
Although he emphasized that the inquiry is still in its early phases, Raia stated that there is no conclusive connection between the incident in New Orleans and the Wednesday explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas.
Biden told reporters he instructed his team to expedite these investigations so we get answers to our unresolved issues, echoing some of the FBI’s findings.
Before discussing how he was able to secure 235 judicial nominees during his one and only term in the White House, Biden discussed the attack.
In the meantime, he said, “New Orleans is a city of tremendous spirit,” as I mentioned last night.
Along with the Jan. 20 inauguration, the D.C. region will also host festivities to honor former President Jimmy Carter following his death on Dec. 29 and the certification of the presidential election on Monday.
Speaking on Fox News on Thursday, Louisiana Republican and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson denounced the violence.
I want to state absolutely that this act of pure evil is precisely what President Trump described it was: a brutal attack on innocent Americans who were celebrating the New Year.
He went on to say, “I have some confidence that our federal and state partners are working on that right now. Everyone involved in this needs to be brought to justice quickly.”
Johnson claimed that on Wednesday, just a few hours after the Las Vegas explosion, he was at Mar-a-Lago with Trump.
We can’t wait for President Trump to return to the White House and for us to restore true law and order in this nation, Johnson said, adding that he shares our concerns and is eager to go to work.
In a Wednesday interview on Fox News, U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Republican from Louisiana, expressed his condolences for the victims and their families, as well as for the police officers who bravely apprehended the suspect but were also shot. He also said he prayed for their full recovery.
“All I can hope for is that the FBI and all the agencies involved are completely honest at every stage,” he said.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Rep. Troy Carter, a Democrat from Louisiana whose district includes New Orleans, said he had discussed the attack with Mayorkas and the White House and would keep receiving information.
He expressed his sympathy to the victims, their families, and all those who were there at what ought to have been a happy New Year’s celebration.
As additional details about the incident become available, Carter stated that he is dedicated to collaborating with federal and local authorities to secure justice for the victims and to fortify policies that protect our communities from acts of terror.
“Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those killed or injured in this horrific attack,” said Rep. Mark Green, chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, in a statement released Wednesday.
The Tennessee Republican pointed out that the committee asked for a briefing in an attempt to keep asking questions and pushing for openness.
“The Committee expects a thorough and transparent process to provide clarity on this tragedy for the families and the public as the FBI investigates this as an act of terrorism,” he added.
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