TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) expressed his condolences about the New Orleans truck attack on the social media platform X on Thursday (Jan. 2), stating his deep sorrow and offering heartfelt sympathies on behalf of Taiwan's people and government.
A New Year's celebration in New Orleans' French Quarter turned tragic when Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a truck into a crowd, killing 15 people. The Associated Press reported that police discovered a black flag associated with the Islamic State (IS) in Jabbar's truck. Authorities are investigating whether Jabbar was inspired by this Middle Eastern extremist group or any of its 19 global affiliates.
The FBI confirmed to U.S. President Joe Biden that Jabbar posted a video on social media hours before the attack, showing IS inspiration. The FBI has warned of a significant rise in international terrorism threats following the Gaza conflict.
The incident, initially intended as a moment of celebration, ended in a deadly confrontation. Jabbar, after driving into the crowd, engaged in a shootout with police and was shot dead at the scene. In addition to the IS flag, authorities found homemade explosives in the truck, leading the FBI to classify the attack as terrorism. This tragedy underscores the growing threat of global terrorism and the need for vigilant international cooperation to prevent such attacks.
