The man who rammed a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year's revellers in New Orleans had suspected bomb-making materials at his home and reserved the vehicle more than six weeks earlier, law enforcement officials say.
Federal authorities searching the home of Shamsud-Din Jabbar in Houston found a workbench in the garage and hazardous materials believed to have been used to make explosive devices, according to law enforcement officials familiar with the search.
The officials were not authorised to speak about the ongoing inquiry and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.
The FBI investigation also revealed Jabbar purchased a cooler in Texas hours before the attack and gun oil from a store in Louisiana, the officials said.
Authorities also determined Jabbar booked his rental of the pickup truck on November 14, suggesting he may have been plotting the attack for weeks.
Authorities say 14 people were killed and about 30 were injured in the attack early on Wednesday by Jabbar, a former army soldier who posted several videos on his Facebook hours before the attack previewing the violence he would unleash and proclaiming his support for the Islamic State militant group.
The coroner’s office listed the cause of death for all 14 victims as “blunt force injuries.”
Jabbar, 42, was fatally shot in a firefight with police at the scene of the deadly crash on Bourbon Street, famous worldwide for its festive vibes in New Orleans' historic French Quarter.
Authorities found crude bombs that had been planted in the neighbourhood in an apparent attempt to cause more carnage.
Two improvised explosive devices left in coolers several blocks apart were rendered safe at the scene, officials said. Other devices were determined to be non-functional.
Investigators recovered from Jabbar's rental truck a transmitter intended to trigger the two bombs, the FBI said in a statement on Friday.
It also said authorities found bomb-making materials at the New Orleans home Jabbar rented prior to the attack.
Jabbar tried to burn the house down by setting a small fire in a hallway and placing accelerants to help spread it, the FBI said. The flames burned out before firefighters arrived.
Authorities on Friday were still investigating Jabbar's motives and how he carried out the attack. They say he exited the crashed truck wearing a ballistic vest and helmet and fired at police, wounding at least two officers before he was fatally shot by officers returning fire.
Bourbon Street was solemn on Friday.
A day after the crime scene reopened to the public, locals and tourists stopped to pay respects to victims of the attack as the sound of bucket drums echoed.
People shed tears while gathering at a growing memorial. Some left flowers and candles while others dropped to their knees to say a quick prayer.
Thirteen people remain hospitalised.
The White House said President Joe Biden would travel to New Orleans next week.
Police used multiple vehicles and barricades on Friday to block traffic at Bourbon and Canal streets as crowds of pedestrians swelled.
The first parade of the Carnival season leading up to Mardi Gras was scheduled to take place on Monday. New Orleans will also host the Super Bowl on February 9.
In a previous effort to protect the French Quarter, the city had installed steel columns known as bollards to restrict vehicle access to Bourbon Street.
The posts retracted to allow for deliveries to bars and restaurants, until - gummed up by Mardi Gras beads, beer and other detritus - they stopped working reliably.
So when New Year’s Eve arrived, the bollards were gone. They were being replaced ahead of the Super Bowl.
