Baghdad – Iraqi authorities have apprehended an individual suspected of being affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS), believed to have incited a deadly vehicle-ramming attack that occurred in January in New Orleans, resulting in 14 fatalities.
The incident took place during New Year’s celebrations when a former U.S. military member drove a pickup truck into a crowd in the city’s French Quarter. The assailant, who had reportedly pledged allegiance to ISIS, was fatally shot by police during an armed confrontation.
According to Iraq’s judiciary, the arrest was made following a formal request from the United States to support its ongoing investigation. The detainee is alleged to be part of ISIS’s external operations unit and will be prosecuted under Iraq’s counter-terrorism laws.
Despite having declared victory over ISIS in 2017, Iraq continues to combat remnants of the group, which remain active in certain regions. Recent counter-terrorism efforts have reportedly eliminated a significant portion of the group’s senior leadership, according to a United Nations assessment.
ISIS rose to prominence in 2014 after seizing territory across Iraq and Syria, launching a reign of terror marked by widespread violence and human rights abuses.
