New Orleans attack: How the perpetrator wanted to destroy evidence

By Lena Klimkeit

New Orleans (USA) - New details about the attack in New Orleans published! According to investigators, the attacker wanted to destroy evidence with a fire.

After the attack in New Orleans, investigators were able to achieve initial results - including the question of how the perpetrator intended to dispose of the evidence.
After the attack in New Orleans, investigators were able to achieve initial results - including the question of how the perpetrator intended to dispose of the evidence.  © Matthew Hinton/AP/dpa

However, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced that this was not successful, which is why, among other things, bomb-making materials were seized in a rented accommodation in the city in the southern state of Louisiana.

Firefighters had responded to a fire at the shelter at 5:18 a.m. (local time) on New Year's morning.

The ATF later determined that Shamsud-Din J. (42) was the only person who could have had access there when the fire was started. He had also started a small fire in the hallway and spread accelerant around the house to destroy evidence in preparation for his later crime.

Before the flames could spread to other rooms, however, it was extinguished - by then J. had already left the building.

Assassin had remote detonators for explosive devices in his car

Crosses on Canal Street commemorate the victims of the attack.
Crosses on Canal Street commemorate the victims of the attack.  © Gerald Herbert/AP/dpa

The attacker, inspired by the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS), drove his pick-up truck into a crowd in the popular French Quarter in New Orleans at around 3.15 a.m. local time.

14 people were killed, J. died after a gun battle with the police.

US President Joe Biden (82) had said on Thursday that a remote detonator for explosive devices had been found in the man's truck.

The FBI has now announced that investigators assume that he wanted to use the transmitter to detonate the explosive devices he had previously placed on Bourbon Street. However, this did not happen.