The police were alerted at 03.15 local time, on New Year's Eve, about an incident in the oldest, most visited, and most famous part of the city, the so-called French Quarter.
A person in a white pickup drove around the police barriers and then straight into the crowd on famous Bourbon Street. After the car ride, the man opened fire on the police, injuring two lightly.
The man was shot dead by the police on the spot.
The perpetrator has been identified as Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, a 42-year-old American citizen from Texas. He had previously served in the American army for several years.
A total of 15 people, including the suspect, have been confirmed dead. At least 35 people are injured.
The FBI is investigating the incident as a terrorist attack. The Department of Homeland Security is assisting in the investigation.
Homemade explosives have been found in the car and in the area. The FBI believes that the driver acted alone and that he had placed homemade explosives at the scene before the attack.
The FBI has found five videos that the driver posted on Facebook hours before the attack, in which he says he was inspired by IS and that he had sworn allegiance to the terrorist group. An IS flag was also found in the car.
The car he drove was rented in Houston the day before the attack. He drove to New Orleans on New Year's Eve while publishing the videos on social media.
The authorities are investigating a property in Mandeville where three phones and two computers linked to the suspect have been found.
Sources: AP, BBC, and CNN
