New Orleans was plunged into terror on New Year’s Eve as a U.S. Army veteran, reportedly inspired by the Islamic State group, carried out a deadly attack that claimed 15 lives and injured dozens more.

The horrifying act unfolded in the iconic French Quarter, turning celebrations into a night of chaos and despair.

The assailant, identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar from Texas, drove a pickup truck through a crowded Bourbon Street after bypassing a police barricade early Wednesday morning.

Jabbar, who posted videos to social media hours before the attack declaring his allegiance to ISIS, reportedly expressed a chilling desire to kill.

President Joe Biden condemned the attack, calling it a “despicable” and “heinous act,” and revealed that the FBI recovered incriminating videos during their investigation.

Witnesses recounted harrowing moments as Jabbar’s vehicle tore through the crowd. Zion Parsons, 18, from Gulfport, Mississippi, described the carnage:

“It was like something out of a movie. The truck was throwing people into the air. Bodies were everywhere, and people were screaming and crying.”

Among those tragically killed was Parsons’ friend, Nikyra Dedeaux.

New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick described the attack as “pure evil” and highlighted the growing trend of vehicle-based terrorist attacks.

After being fatally shot by police, authorities discovered firearms, an improvised explosive device (IED), and an Islamic State flag in Jabbar’s vehicle.

Additional explosive devices scattered throughout the French Quarter led to a citywide lockdown. Surveillance footage revealed other individuals placing explosives at the scene, raising concerns of a coordinated attack.

Assistant Special Agent Alethea Duncan stated, “Jabbar may not have acted alone,” though investigations are ongoing to confirm any accomplices.

Officials criticized Jabbar’s ability to bypass security measures designed to protect pedestrians. “He was determined to cause carnage,” Kirkpatrick remarked.

Despite the swift response by law enforcement, two officers sustained injuries during an exchange of gunfire but are now in stable condition.

The attack, the deadliest Islamic State-inspired assault on U.S. soil in years, has cast a shadow over the city and the nation. A scheduled college football playoff game at the Superdome was postponed, and residents have been urged to remain vigilant.

As investigators piece together Jabbar’s motives and connections, the tragedy stands as a grim reminder of the enduring threat of terrorism.