Pope Francis Condoles Loss of Life in New Orleans Truck Rampage
In a heartfelt message, Pope Francis has extended his condolences to the Archbishop of New Orleans, Gregory Aymond, following the tragic truck rampage that claimed at least 15 lives. The somber message was conveyed in a letter from Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
"His Holiness Pope Francis is profoundly saddened by the loss of life and injury caused by this heinous act," Cardinal Parolin wrote. The Pope "prays for the healing and consolation of those wounded and affected by this tragedy."
Truck Plows into New Orleans New Year’s Crowd
In a chilling incident, a truck driver allegedly intentionally drove into a crowd celebrating New Year’s in New Orleans, leaving 15 people dead. While initial reports from authorities had placed the death toll at 10, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) later confirmed the number had risen to 15, citing the New Orleans coroner’s office.
Identifying the Suspect
The FBI has identified the truck driver as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old former soldier and real estate agent from Houston. Jabbar, who was also an IT specialist during his military career, remains at large, with local police actively searching for accomplices. Inspector Anne Kirkpatrick has labeled Jabbar a "terrorist" as investigations continue.
