British royal family in shock: royal nanny's stepson among the dead in New Orleans

London (United Kingdom) - There is great shock following the attack in New Orleans that left 14 people dead. The British royal family is also affected by the tragedy.

Edward Pettifer (†31), the stepson of royal nanny Alexandra Pettifer, is also among the dead in New Orleans.
Edward Pettifer (†31), the stepson of royal nanny Alexandra Pettifer, is also among the dead in New Orleans.  © Metropolitan Police

Three days after the horrific attack, all the victims have been identified. Among them is Edward Pettifer (†31), stepson of Prince William's (42) long-time nanny and his brother Prince Harry (40). Palace sources confirmed this to the BBC.

The King had contacted the family of the murdered man to express his personal condolences. Prince William has also been informed of the tragic loss.

In an initial statement, Pettifer's family paid tribute to the young man "as wonderful son, brother, grandson, nephew and a friend to so many".

"He will be terribly missed by us all. Our thoughts are with the other families who have lost family members to this horrific attack. We ask that we can mourn Ed as a family in private. Thank you," said the grieving bereaved.

Pettifer died of "blunt force trauma" according to the coroner's office - driven to death by IS terrorist Shamsud-Din Jabbar. Edward was only 31 years old. Among the dead are a promising college football player, a young nurse and the mother of a four-year-old.

Alexandra 'Tiggy' Pettifer (59, from left) in 2022. She was the nanny of Prince William (42) and Prince Harry (40).
ContentImage.Description   © Aaron Chown/PA Wire/dpa
The perpetrator killed 14 people in a pick-up truck in New Orleans.
ContentImage.Description   © Gerald Herbert/AP/dpa

Shamsud-Din Jabbar wanted to kill people in the name of the so-called "Islamic State"

The terrorist Shamsud-Din Jabbar (†42) pledged allegiance to the so-called "Islamic State".
The terrorist Shamsud-Din Jabbar (†42) pledged allegiance to the so-called "Islamic State".  © FBI / AFP

Review: Shortly after the turn of the year on the night of January 1, Shamsud-Din Jabbar (†42) broke through several police barriers in a rented pick-up truck in the historic center of New Orleans and sped through a pedestrian zone at high speed - with the firm intention of killing.

When he crashed the vehicle into a vehicle lift, he got out and opened fire on the bystanders with an assault rifle. 14 people died and 35 others were injured. The terrorist was shot dead by security forces. The flag of the so-called "Islamic State" was found in the pick-up truck.

Shamsud-Din Jabbar converted to Islam, was a US citizen and was stationed in Afghanistan for a time as a soldier.

The fire in rented accommodation isalso believed to be linked to the insane act in New Orleans.