US President Joe Biden has visited the site of the New Year’s Day incident in New Orleans, which tragically resulted in 14 fatalities and numerous injuries when a US Army veteran drove a truck into a gathering of celebrants.
Mr. Biden and his wife, Jill, paused at Bourbon Street to honor the victims before proceeding to a church for a memorial service.
The first lady placed a bouquet of flowers at a makeshift memorial while the president stood beside her and crossed himself.
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the Texas individual who drove the truck, was killed in a confrontation with the police.
A US Secret Service agent stands guard beside a makeshift memorial in New Orleans.
President Biden affirmed this assessment during comments made on Sunday.
“I spent literally 17, 18 hours with the intelligence community from the moment this occurred, determining exactly what transpired.”
“We established beyond any reasonable doubt that the events in New Orleans were the actions of a lone individual,” Mr. Biden stated.
“He was struggling with significant personal issues, including his own mental health, and he acted alone.”
Mr. Biden, like many presidents before him, has made numerous visits throughout his administration to provide solace to communities affected by natural disasters or acts of violence.
Having experienced the loss of his first wife and infant daughter in a car accident, as well as the death of one of his adult sons due to cancer, he empathizes deeply with those in grief.
“I’ve been there,” President Biden remarked.
