Two more victims from the New Orleans terror attack have been named. Meanwhile, the FBI have released new images of the suspect, US army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar, and the cooler used to house an IED.
false,Friday 3 January 2025 13:52, UK
We'll be pausing our live coverage for now, but we'll be back later with more updates and analysis.
If you're just checking in, you can scroll back through the blog for a recap of the key events that have occurred today.
Bourbon Street has reopened after authorities finished processing the scene.
The street is located in the popular French Quarter of New Orleans.
It is a tourist area filled with bars and restaurants and was expected to be busy at the time of the attack during New Year celebrations.
Trombone player and lifelong New Orleans resident Jonas Green said it was important for his band to be out on Bourbon street after the attack, playing on the same block where the attack took place.
"Got to keep on going," Mr Green said.
The brother of the New Orleans terror suspect has said: "This wasn't the man I knew."
Authorities have named the suspect as Shamsud-Din Jabbar - a former US serviceman.
His younger brother, speaking to KPRC, an affiliate of Sky News's US partner, NBC, described the attack as a "tragedy".
He said: "This wasn't the man I knew. This wasn't the father, the son, that I knew.
He added: "This isn't any representation of Islam, or Muslims, or the Muslim community."
By James Matthews, US correspondent
Did the authorities fail the victims of the New Orleans terror attack? It's barely in question, surely.
And yet, consider the response of Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick of New Orleans police when I asked if she'd let them down by not having an appropriate security plan.
"It has to be a security failure?" I suggested.
"We do know that people have lost their lives," she responded. "But if you were experienced with terrorism, you would not be asking that question."
You can read more here...
The FBI have released new images of the New Orleans attacker Shamsud-Din Jabbar.
The images show Jabbar walking along a street dressed in a light brown long coat.
They have also released a photo of one of the coolers containing an improvised explosive device (IED).
Earlier the police had said investigators found remnants of bomb making during a search of Jabbar's home.
It was not immediately clear if Jabbar tried to detonate the devices, or if they malfunctioned, the officials said.
Two more victims from the New Orleans terror attack have been named overnight.
Billy DiMaio, 25, was in Louisiana to celebrate the new year and be with friends and his parents when he was killed.
"He was a good, humble kid," his father Bill DiMaio told The New Orleans Advocate newspaper.
Tracie DiMaio said her son "was a pure, gentle-hearted soul".
Mr DiMaio's college Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia said in a statement that he was a 2022 graduate.
"Billy was a leader within our community who shined not only as a star student in the classroom, but also as a top athlete, serving as a Captain on our 2022 championship Lacrosse team," the statement said.
Terrence Kennedy, 63, was also among the people killed in Wednesday's attack, his sister and family confirmed to Sky's partner network NBC News.
Known as Terry, he was born and raised in New Orleans and was remembered for his "kindness and his big heart", his family said.
His sister Jacqueline Kennedy said in a video on Facebook: "I'm sorry to have to tell you all that he didn't make it."
Welcome back to our coverage of the New Orleans terror attack.
Before we bring you the latest, here is a look at the key events that took place yesterday:
Goodnight
That's all for our live coverage this evening, but we'll be back with more updates and analysis tomorrow.
If you're just checking in, here is a recap of the key events that occurred today.
The FBI said its agents believed suspect Shamsud-Din Jabbar was a lone wolf attacker - having investigated whether he had worked with accomplices;
They also said they had recovered two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found in coolers at the scene, and that Jabbar, a former US serviceman, had posted pro-ISIS videos prior to the attack;
The FBI said there were "no definitive links" between the attack in New Orleans and the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside a Trump hotel in Las Vegas;
However, police in Las Vegas said they were still not "ruling out" a possible link at this stage. They also said they believed the body found in the vehicle to be that of a current US serviceman;
Meanwhile, the brother of one of the victims of the New Orleans attack spoke to Sky News about his loss, describing it as the "hardest day of my life";
The Sugar Bowl, which was postponed in the wake of the attack, went ahead after a moment of silence.
The suspect in the New Orleans attack, had financial troubles in recent years, according to public records obtained by Sky News's US partner, NBC News.
According to the records, Shamsud-Din Jabbar wrote to his then-wife's lawyers in January 2022 asking about speeding up a divorce process due to his financial situation.
In an e-mail he wrote: "Time is of the essence. I can not afford the house payment. It is past due in excess of $27,000 and in danger of foreclosure if we delay settling the divorce."
In that e-mail he said that the business formed before his marriage, Blue Meadow Properties LLC, had a loss of $28,019 in 2021, making it worth around -$140,000.
He also said he had incurred $16,000 in credit card debt primarily due to lawyer's fees, establishing a second residence, and his then-wife’s purchases over the three months, according to the records.
Jabbar represented himself in the divorce case and in August 2022 filed his financial information statement and monthly expenses with the court.
It said he made nearly $60 an hour at Deloitte and worked 40 hours a week, with a net income of about $7,900 a month after deductions.
He also incurred about -$400 a month from his business, making his monthly take home amount about $7,500. He also included debt owed to credit card companies and debtors amounting to nearly $42,000.
Separately, Jabber had $2,012 across five bank and cash app accounts and an outstanding mortgage balance of $199,984 as of June 2022.
NFL team the New Orleans Saints have paid tribute to a video producer killed in yesterday's attack.
In a post on X, they said Matthew Tenedorio was a member of the ASM New Orleans video production team who helped make content for both the Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans basketball team.
'A bright future'
"We remain heartbroken by the tragic events that claimed innocent lives in our city yesterday," the team wrote on their official X page.
"Among those lost was Matthew Tenedorio, a valued member of the ASM New Orleans video production team.
"Matthew was young, talented and had a bright future.
"Our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences are with the Tenedrio family and everyone affected by this senseless act of terrorism.
"Together, as a city, state, and region, we will come back stronger from this tragedy."
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