WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden addressed the nation Wednesday after a terrorist attack in New Orleans that killed 15 people and injured dozens more, calling the attack “despicable.”
“I want you to know that I grieve with you. Our nation grieves with you. We will be with you as you grieve and heal in the weeks ahead,” Biden said during his remarks, which were delivered at Camp David in Maryland.
For live coverage, follow here.
The president said the FBI told him that just hours before the attack, the suspect posted videos on social media “indicating he was inspired by ISIS, expressing a desire to kill.”
Biden also noted that “the investigation remains active and no one should jump to conclusions.” He said he would keep the country “fully informed at the same time.”
“Many people around the world love New Orleans for its history, its culture and, above all, its people,” Biden said. “So I know that even though this person committed a terrible assault on the city, the spirit of our New Orleans will never, ever, ever be defeated. It will always shine.”
The president thanked first responders as well as national security and law enforcement officials.
Biden also briefly addressed an incident in Las Vegas, where a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel. NBC News has reported that the explosion is being investigated as a possible terrorist attack.
The president said his team was tracking the explosion and noted that authorities are investigating any connection between the incident and the New Orleans attack.
Biden said there was “nothing to report” about any connection at this time.
Just hours into the new year, a suspect drove a truck with an ISIS flag into a crowd in New Orleans. The suspect, identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, was killed during a shootout with police. Jabbar was an American citizen and Army veteran.
In the wake of the attack, the Sugar Bowl college football game was postponed until 4 p.m. Eastern time Thursday in New Orleans. It was originally scheduled for Wednesday night, but the delay “will allow additional security resources to be put in place to maintain the typical standards of a major event at Caesars Superdome,” according to a statement released by the bowl game.
The White House said earlier Wednesday that the president held a call with senior national security and law enforcement officials, including Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Biden also issued a statement on the attack early Wednesday, noting that he directed his team to “ensure that all resources are available as federal, state and local law enforcement agencies work assiduously to get to the bottom of what happened as quickly as possible and ensure that there are no remaining threats of any kind.”
