‘Deeply saddened’: Ford CEO Jim Farley on Bourbon Street attack

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Ford CEO Jim Farley reacted Wednesday to the terror attack in New Orleans.

The terror attack occurred early Wednesday morning in New Orleans, where the FBI said suspect Shamsud-Din Jabbar hurtled a rented white Ford pickup truck down the city’s famous Bourbon Street amid New Year’s festivities. It left 14 people dead and several dozen others injured.  

« New Orleans…we are deeply saddened by this violent attack, » the Ford CEO wrote on X. « Our hearts go out to the victims and injured, their families and the emergency responders. »

Ford « is, and will continue to work in full cooperation with authorities, » Farley said.

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FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia said Thursday the Jabbar « picked up the rented F-150 in Houston, Texas, on Dec. 30 » before traveling to New Orleans.

A police officer patrols the French Quarter, after an attack by a man driving a truck down Bourbon street the day before, early on January 2, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. At least 10 people were killed and 30 injured Wednesday when a vehicle plowed overnight into a New year's crowd in the heart of the thriving New Orleans tourist district, authorities in the southern US city said. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

A police officer patrols the French Quarter after an attack by a man driving a truck down Bourbon Street the day before, early on January 2, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. At least 10 people were killed and 30 injured Wednesday when a vehicle plowe (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

The rental of the vehicle was arranged through Turo’s platform. 

A Turo spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News that the peer-to-peer car-sharing company was « heartbroken by the violence perpetrated in New Orleans and Las Vegas. » 

In Las Vegas, a Tesla Cybertruck that was loaded with gasoline canisters and firework mortars exploded the same day. It was also rented via the platform. 

« We are actively partnering with law enforcement authorities as they investigate both incidents. We do not believe that either renter involved in the Las Vegas and New Orleans attacks had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat. We remain committed to maintaining the highest standards in risk management, thanks to our world-class trust and safety technologies and teams that include experienced former law enforcement professionals, » the Turo spokesperson said. 

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FBI’s Raia said Thursday that « at this point there is no definitive link between the attack here in New Orleans and the one in Las Vegas, » noting that it was « very early » in the investigation. 

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, USA - JANUARY 1: Police checkpoints on and around Bourbon Street, after a vehicle plowed into New Year crowds at a tourist district local authorities said in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States on January 1, 2025. (Photo by Patt Little/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Police checkpoints on and around Bourbon Street, after a vehicle plowed into New Year crowds at a tourist district, local authorities said in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States on January 1, 2025. (Photo by Patt Little/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Patt Little/Anadolu via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas, died on Bourbon Street after exchanging fire with police, according to the FBI. The agency said an ISIS flag, weapons and a potential IED were discovered in his rented truck after the attack. 

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Raia said the Bourbon Street suspect had « posted several videos to an online platform proclaiming his support for ISIS » while on his way to New Orleans. 

Margaret Kerkman contributed to this report.