The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) says initial investigations indicate that Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the driver who rammed a truck into a crowd in New Orleans, was inspired by ISIS. The death toll from the attack has risen to 14.

At a news conference on Thursday, Christopher Raia, deputy assistant director of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, said: “So what I can tell you right now is that he was 100 per cent inspired by ISIS.”

He added, “And so we’re digging — we’re digging through more of the social media, more interviews, working with some of our other partners to ascertain just how to ascertain a little bit more about that connection.”

Citing a Facebook post by the attacker before the incident, Mr Raia said: “Jabbar explains he originally planned to harm his family and friends but was concerned the news headlines would not focus on the ‘war between the believers and the disbelievers.’ Additionally, he stated he had joined ISIS before this summer.”

Mr Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran, rammed a truck adorned with the ISIS flag and carrying improvised explosive devices (IEDs) into a crowd in New Orleans on New Year’s Day, killing 10 people on the spot and injuring several others.

The attacker later exchanged fire with security officials at the scene before he was shot dead.