Thursday Briefing: An attack in New Orleans
Good morning. We’re covering a deadly attack in New Orleans and escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Plus, fitness resolutions for the new year.
Ten people were killed in an attack in New OrleansA man rammed a pickup into crowds on Bourbon Street in New Orleans on New Year’s Day, killing at least 10 people and injuring about 35 others before being killed by the police, officials said. The F.B.I. is investigating the attack as an act of terrorism. Follow our live updates. The suspect has been identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran from Texas. An Islamic State flag, weapons and a “potential” improvised explosive were found in the vehicle, the F.B.I. said, and other potential bombs were also found in the French Quarter. Investigators said they were seeking possible connections between him and terrorist organizations. The combination of a truck used as a weapon, along with the bomb, led investigators to believe that the perpetrator’s goal was to cause additional civilian casualties. How it unfolded: Around 3:15 a.m., as crowds were raucously celebrating the end of 2024 in the city’s historic French Quarter, a man drove a truck at high speed into the crowd before crashing and opening fire, officials said. Jabbar died in a shootout with the police. Two officers were shot and are in stable condition. Four-wheeled weapons: Vehicle-based attacks against crowds have a long history. Cars and trucks are easier to get ahold of than guns or explosives and require minimal training.
Ukraine halted the flow of Russian natural gas to EuropeUkraine yesterday refused to renew an agreement that allowed Russian gas to travel through its territory to Europe, according to officials in both countries. The move is part of a broader campaign by Ukraine and its Western allies to undermine Moscow’s ability to fund its war effort, but there are risks. Moscow could decide to bomb Ukraine’s vast network of pipelines in retaliation, which it has largely spared over the past three years. Details: Europe was prepared for the move, so analysts expect there to be little effect on gas prices there. Hungary, Austria and several Balkan countries still use Russian gas delivered through Ukraine, but experts say existing stockpiles and alternative supplies should prevent cuts to electricity and heating in those countries. Slovakia, which is still heavily dependent on Russian gas, threatened to retaliate against Ukraine.
Airstrikes are escalating Pakistan-Afghanistan tensionsPakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan have intensified tensions with the Taliban in recent days, and violent cross-border exchanges have become alarmingly frequent. Pakistan hasn’t said anything on record about the strikes on Dec. 24, but security officials said privately that they were aimed at the T.T.P., or Pakistani Taliban, a militant group behind a series of attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban said dozens of civilians were killed in the strikes, and that it retaliated with actions inside Pakistan. Stakes: The T.T.P.’s attacks have put immense pressure on leaders in both countries. Pakistan must show its people that it can respond to threats, while the Taliban fear that a crackdown on the T.T.P., with which they share beliefs and deep-rooted bonds, could divide their own ranks. |
