The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued an urgent update to travel advice for British nationals visiting the United States after a shocking terror attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.
The incident, described as a devastating act of violence, left 15 dead and scores injured after a vehicle was driven into a crowd celebrating in the city’s iconic Bourbon Street.
Authorities reported that the suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Texan, drove his vehicle into a crowd of revelers after bypassing police blockades.
Witnesses said Jabbar was waving an Islamic State flag during the attack.
The driver of the vehicle was ultimately shot and killed by law enforcement, with investigations underway into whether he acted alone.
The FBI has since classified the incident as a terrorist attack.
US President Joe Biden confirmed that Jabbar had uploaded a video before the attack, pledging allegiance to the so-called Islamic State group.
The FCDO’s updated travel guidance now advises British nationals in New Orleans to exercise extreme caution and avoid crowded areas.
For those needing assistance, the FCDO provided emergency contact details, including a helpline for affected UK citizens.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “Our hearts go out to the people of New Orleans and to all those affected by this horrific attack. This is a fast-moving situation, and we continue to monitor developments closely.”
British tourist Steve Hyde, who was celebrating his birthday in a bar near the intersection of Canal and Bourbon Street, told the BBC: “We heard shots and saw people running past the window and didn’t really know what was going on… and then the sirens started. It’s a bit chaotic here but also eerily quiet now.”
Hyde described the atmosphere in the city as reminiscent of Mardi Gras, with massive crowds gathered for New Year’s celebrations before the tragedy unfolded.
The attack has drawn condemnation from global leaders. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the event as “shockingly violent,” extending sympathy to the victims and their families.
Joe Biden labeled the attack as an act of terrorism, while leaders from Germany, France, and Mexico expressed solidarity with the people of New Orleans.
French President Emmanuel Macron said: “New Orleans, so dear to the hearts of the French, has been struck by terrorism.” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz decried the attack as “senseless hatred.”