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U.S. officials have warned that the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon could spill into the United States, most likely in the form of small radicalized groups acting on their own initiative or lone-wolf terrorists.
- Jan. 1, 2025, 4:31 p.m. ET
An Islamic State flag, weapons and a “potential” improvised explosive found in the truck that plowed through crowds in New Orleans on New Year’s Day, killing at least 10 people, have raised the specter that the international terrorist group played a role in the attack.
Law enforcement officials said on Wednesday that they were trying to determine the suspect’s potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations. Counterterrorism specialists pointed to several telltale signs.
“By carrying an ISIS flag with him during the attack, the suspect wanted to show that he was a true believer, aligned with the ISIS cause, and perhaps hoping to trigger others into following suit,” said Colin P. Clarke, a counterterrorism analyst at the Soufan Group, a security consulting firm based in New York.
Mr. Clarke said the attack was a fairly sophisticated assault, given the multiple layers involved: truck ramming, firearms and improvised explosive devices.
“This horrific attack is a painful reminder of how effective ISIS propaganda is at inspiring violent extremists, including many living in the West,” he said.
U.S. officials have been warning for months that the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as unrest in Central Asia, could spill into the United States, most likely in the form of small radicalized groups acting on their own initiative or lone-wolf terrorists.
