Several Arab countries have expressed strong condemnation and condolences following the deadly car-ramming attack that killed and injured dozens in America’s New Orleans in the early hours of Wednesday.
The FBI identified the attacker as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a U.S. citizen from Texas and Army veteran.
Around 3.15 am (09:15GMT), a white Ford F-150 pickup truck plowed through the heart of the French Quarter of New Orleans, killing at least 15 people and injuring more than 30 others.
In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry voiced solidarity with the US and extended its condolences to the families of the victims.
The ministry said Egypt rejects all forms of violence that threaten the security and safety of civilians.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry also condemned the attack, saying the kingdom “reiterates its total rejection of all forms of violence.”
Condemning the incident, the Qatari Foreign Ministry also reiterated the country’s “firm stance against all forms of violence, terrorism and criminal acts, regardless of their motivations.”
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Iraq strongly condemned the car-ramming incident and voiced solidarity with the American people.
The Bahraini Foreign Ministry also expressed the kingdom’s “heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of the United States.”
It also stressed Bahrain’s “firm position and rejection of acts of violence and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, regardless of their motives or justifications.”
Jordan also joined the Arab countries in condemning “the terrorist attack” in New Orleans and stressed the kingdom’s “rejection of all forms of terrorism and violence that aim to undermine security and stability,” according to a statement from its Foreign Ministry.
The New Orleans attack
New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the driver swerved around barricades and was driving at “very high speed” and in a “very intentional” manner.
“This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could. He was hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.”
After the car stopped, the driver jumped out of the vehicle and fired at responding officers, who shot back and killed him.
The FBI identified the suspect as 42-year-old Jabbar, who served in the US military between 2007 and 2020.
He also deployed to to serve during the illegal occupation of Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010.
The FBI said that an ISIS flag was located in the vehicle used in the attack. The bureau is trying to determine if Jabbar was associated with any terrorist organisations.
Alethea Duncan, the assistant special agent in charge of the New Orleans FBI, told reporters: “The FBI is working to determine the subject’s potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organisations .. We do not believe that Jabbar was solely responsible. We are aggressively running down every lead, including those of his known associates.”
