At least 15 people were killed and 30 others were injured when a truck rammed into a crowd of New Year revelers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly condemned the terrorist attack in New Orleans, US on Wednesday (January 1, 2025) and described it as “cowardly”.

In a post on social media platform X on Thursday (January 2, 2025), Prime Minister Modi extended his condolences to the families of the victims and hoped they would "find strength and solace" following the attack.

“We strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack in New Orleans. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families," Prime Minister Modi said on social media platform X. "May they find strength and solace as they heal from this tragedy,” he added.

US President Joe Biden posted on X soon after the attack, saying “My heart goes out to the victims and their families who were simply trying to celebrate the holiday. There is no justification for violence of any kind, and we will not tolerate any attack on any of our nation's communities”.

On Wednesday, a US army veteran drove a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year's revelers on a festive street in the famed French Quarter area of New Orleans, killing 15 people and injuring 30 others. The truck had a flag of the Islamic State (ISIS).

Police and law enforcement agencies identified the attacker as Shamsud-Din Jabar, a 42-year-old US citizen. Belonging to Texas, Jabar is said to have served in the US military in the past. Jabar, who came out of the truck and began firing after the attack, was shot dead by law enforcement officials.

According to the police, Jabar was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could. He was driving at "very high speed" and in a "very intentional" manner, and was hellbent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did, New Orleans police superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said.

A Tesla Cybertruck explosion later in the evening, outside a Las Vegas hotel owned by US President-elect Donald Trump, fuelled speculation about a connection to the New Orleans attack with law enforcement agencies probing possible links.