Biden Says ‘No One Should Jump To Conclusions’ About Attack
On Wednesday evening, President Joe Biden addressed the nation following a tragic event in New Orleans that has been described as an act of terrorism, leaving approximately 15 individuals dead and many more injured.
The FBI has identified the suspect as Shamsud Din Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran and Texas resident. Reports suggest he may have been influenced by extremist Islamic ideologies.
President Biden began his address by saying, “For all Americans, when I say our hearts are with the people of New Orleans after the despicable attack that occurred in the early morning hours. To all the families of those who were killed, to all those who were injured, to all the people of New Orleans who are grieving today, I want you to know I grieve with you. Our nation grieves with you.”
He continued, “We’re going to stand with you as you mourn and as you heal in the weeks to come. I want to thank our brave first responders and law enforcement personnel who stopped the attacker in his tracks before he could kill or injure even more people. I want to thank you to everyone at the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, including the FBI, for working nonstop to investigate this heinous act.”
Initially, Louisiana authorities, including Governor Jeff Landry, classified the incident as terrorism. However, FBI Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Alethea Duncan expressed caution, stating the agency could not confirm that designation early on. The FBI has since confirmed it is investigating the event as an act of terrorism.
President Biden remarked, “The FBI also reported to me that mere hours before the attack, he posted videos on social media indicating that he was inspired by ISIS, expressing a desire to kill, a desire to kill.”
He further explained, “The ISIS flag was found in his vehicle, which he rented to conduct this attack. Possible explosives were found in the vehicle as well, and more explosives were found nearby. The situation is very fluid, and the investigation has a preliminary stage.”
The President urged against drawing premature conclusions, stating, “And the fact is that right now — excuse me, there you go — the law enforcement and intelligence community are continuing to look for any connections, associations, or co-conspirators. We have nothing additional to report at this time. The investigation is continuing to be active, and no one should jump to conclusions.”
He assured the public that federal resources are being deployed to assist in the investigation, saying, “Law enforcement and the intelligence community are investigating this as well, including whether there’s any possible connection with the attack in New Orleans. Thus far, there’s nothing to report on that score at this time. I’ve directed my team to make sure every resource — every resource is made available to federal, state, and local law enforcement to complete the investigation in New Orleans quickly and to make sure there’s no remaining threat to the American people.”
In closing, Biden praised the resilience of New Orleans, stating, “And we’ll — we will support the people of New Orleans as they begin the hard work of healing. New Orleans is a place unlike any other place in the world. It’s a city full of charm and joy. So many people around the world love New Orleans because of its history, its culture, and, above all, its people. So I know, while this person committed a terrible assault on the city, the spirit of our New Orleans will never, never, never be defeated. It always will shine forth.”
Reflecting on the city’s enduring spirit, he added, “We’ve seen that time and time again throughout its history. And I know we’ll see it again in the days and weeks ahead. May God bless the people of New Orleans.”
As a result of the attack, the Sugar Bowl, a College Football Playoff game between Notre Dame and Georgia originally set for Wednesday evening, has been postponed to 4 p.m. EDT on Thursday.