Biden to visit New Orleans after deadly Bourbon Street attack
NEW ORLEANS (NewsNation) — President Joe Biden will visit New Orleans on Monday to “grieve with the families and community members impacted by the tragic attack.”
After signing the Social Security Fairness Act, Biden was asked Sunday by journalists what his message would be to the families he would meet. He responded, “I’ve been there. There’s nothing you can really say to somebody that’s just had such a tragic loss, my message is going to be personal if I get to get them alone.”
First Lady Jill Biden will accompany the president, according to the White House.
Landry seeks Presidential Disaster Declaration
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry will speak with Biden on Monday to request the approval of a Presidential Disaster Declaration.
Landry is requesting direct federal assistance, to support protective actions and provide care for survivors in Orleans Parish as the state responds to the attack. He’s also seeking individual assistance, limited to crisis counseling for those impacted.
Additionally, Landry is urging the Senate, specifically the Democratic members of the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee, to immediately confirm Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security.
“This is no time to play around. Which is why I am also calling on Senate Democrats on the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee to allow Kristi Noem to get to work on Day 1 as our Secretary of Homeland Security. There should be no gap in leadership. In the wake of the Bourbon Street and Las Vegas attacks, our nation’s security depends on her quick confirmation,” Landry said in a statement.
All victims have been ID’d
Investigation continues into what authorities are calling a New Year’s Day “act of terrorism” in New Orleans’ bustling Canal and Bourbon Streets in which a car drove into a crowd, killing 14 people and injuring at least 35 more.
Officials said Thursday that all victims have been identified, and their families have been notified by New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell.
New Orleans attack suspect
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, has been identified as the man who was shot and killed by police after the deadly New Year’s Day attack.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil said Sunday that Jabbar traveled to New Orleans in late October and in November.
During his first trip, Jabar stayed at a rental home for at least two days beginning on Oct. 30, Myrthil said. The second trip took place on Nov. 10 but FBI officials “are still piecing together details of that trip.”
The FBI said Jabbar was also wearing Meta glasses during the New Year’s Day attack but did not turn on the glasses’ livestreaming capability.
Jabbar also traveled to Cairo, Egypt, from June 22 to July 3 of 2023, and, a few days later, flew to Ontario, Canada on July 10, returning to the U.S. on July 13. It’s unclear if those trips are connected to the attack in New Orleans.
Officials still say Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Houston, acted alone when he killed 14 people early on New Year’s Day.
The Hill and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
