Outgoing President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden visited Bourbon Street on Monday to honour and pay tribute to the 14 victims of the New Year’s truck attack in New Orleans.
The president and first lady visited a temporary memorial situated near the tourist district where Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the suspect, drove his pick-up truck into a crowded area.
At the memorial site, the First Lady placed flowers whilst both observed a moment of silence. President Biden, practising his Catholic faith, performed the sign of the cross as he left.
They subsequently met with attack survivors, bereaved families, and affected law enforcement personnel before attending an interfaith memorial service at St. Louis Cathedral.
White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre, speaking aboard Air Force One en route to New Orleans, announced that Biden has requested “additional federal resources to help the city of New Orleans prepare for upcoming major events.:
These forthcoming events comprise Mardi Gras, concluding on March 4, and the NFL Super Bowl championship scheduled for February 9, according to news agency AFP.
The FBI continues to investigate the New Year’s Day incident, which they have classified as an “act of terrorism.”
The perpetrator, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a former US army serviceman, was killed in a police confrontation following the attack. He had previously demonstrated support for the Islamic State organisation on social media platforms.
