The driver who rammed a truck into a crowd in New Orleans has been identified as Shamsuddin Jabbar, a 42-year-old American citizen.

Preliminary investigations also showed that Mr Jabbar had an ISIS flag at the time of the attack.

Mr Jabbar was killed after engaging in a shootout with police shortly after he rammed his vehicle into a crowd, killing 10 and injuring about 30 people on Wednesday.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, in a statement, said it has launched an investigation into the incident, describing it as a “terrorism act.”

In a press conference on Wednesday, Anne Kirkpatrick, the New Orleans police superintendent, said the driver intentionally drove his truck into the crowd, aiming to run over as many people as possible.

“It was very intentional behavior. This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could,” Ms Kirkpatrick said. “He was hellbent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.”

The incident occurred at the intersection of Bourbon and Canal Streets during New Year’s Eve celebrations, a time when large crowds typically gather in the French Quarter.

This event comes just a week after a car rammed into a German Christmas market, killing five and injuring over 200 people.