A BRITISH citizen has been identified as one of the 14 victims killed in the horrific New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans.
The Brit has been named as 31-year-old Edward Pettifer, of Chelsea, London, the Met Police said.
The family of the deceased expressed their deep grief over the loss, describing him as a beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, and friend to many.
All victims died of blunt force injuries, reports NOLA.com.
According to a statement from a FCDO Spokesperson given to The Sun, they confirmed providing assistance to the British National’s family following the tragic incident in New Orleans and are coordinating with the local authorities.
The incident unfolded when Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42, allegedly carried out the terrorist attack by driving his white Ford pickup truck into a gathering of people celebrating the new year on the renowned Bourbon Street.
The attack turned the street into a bloodbath after revellers were mowed down – leaving dozens more injured.
Bombs were found in Ford F150 Lightning and two were also found planted in the area.
Hours before the attack, the FBI said Jabbar posted five videos on social media where he proclaimed his support for ISIS as he traveled from Houston to New Orleans on the evening of December 31.
In the first video, Jabbar, 42, explained how he initially planned to harm his friends and family but pivoted his attack because he was concerned the news headlines would not focus “on the believers and the disbelievers.”
Jabbar said in one of the videos that he had joined the terrorist organization “before the summer.”
the FBI is now confident there are no accomplices, and it’s believed Jabbar attacked on his own.
Agents raided the suspect’s bomb factory in his scruffy Texas trailer following the attack.
Cops found a Quran left open on a passage about “slaying” in the name of Allah.
FBI agents raided the ramshackle home of the Islamic State-inspired nut and found a bomb-making workbench in a bedroom filled chemicals that can be used in explosives.
Other bomb-making paraphernalia seen in the Houston trailer include tools, an eye-protection visor and weighing scales.
There are now fears that other high profile public events like former president Jimmy Carter’s state funeral could be the “perfect target for terrorists”.
International security specialist Will Geddes told The Sun that American officials “cannot afford” to allow for another strike at the event, which will have the world’s attention.
A US Army spokesperson confirmed to ABC that Jabbar served in human resources and information technology roles from 2007 to 2015 in the army, but he was not involved in direct combat.
A man named Abdur Jabbar in Beaumont, Texas, told The New York Times he was the suspect’s brother.
He described Jabbar as “a sweetheart really, a nice guy, a friend, really smart, caring”.
He said Jabber had converted to Islam at a young age, but that “what he did does not represent Islam.
“This is more some type of radicalization, not religion.”
The New York Times reported that Jabbar has been arrested twice: once in Katy, Texas, for theft in 2002, and once in 2005 for driving with an invalid licence.
In both cases, he was fined $100 by the court.
The New York Post has reported that Jabba was living in a run-down trailer park on the outskirts of Houston where he kept sheep and goats in the yard.
One neighbor, Francois Venegas, described Jabbar as a “simple person” who kept to himself but said they would occasionally exchange words on the street.
Venegas said: “[He was] pretty quiet…Just walking, [he would say] ‘hello,’ ‘hola,’ and that was it.”
New Orleans New Year’s victims list
The Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office has identified all but one of 14 victims struck dead in the horror New Year’s Day attack.
All victims died of blunt force injuries.
They are as follows:
- Andrew Dauphin, 26, of Montgomery, AL
- Kareem Badawi, 23, of Baton Rouge, LA
- Brandon Taylor, 43, of Harvey, LA
- Hubert Gauthreaux, 21, of Gretna, LA
- Matthew Tenedorio, 25 of Picayune, MS
- Nikyra Dedeaux, 18, of Gulfport, MS
- Nicole Perez, 27, of Metairie, LA
- Reggie Hunter, 37, of Prairieville, LA
- Martin Bech, 27, of New York, NY
- Terrence Kennedy, 63, of New Orleans, LA
- Elliot Wilkinson, 40, of Slidell, LA
- William Dimaio, 25, of Holmdel, NJ
- British citizen
- Unknown Black female
Earlier reporting stated that 15 people had died – that tally included the suspect Shamsud Din Jabbar.
