Americans were horrified this week when a man murdered 14 people by driving a truck through a New Year's Eve celebration in New Orleans.

While the FBI initially denied that the tragedy was a terrorist attack, President Joe Biden has since confirmed that the agency is treating it as such. 

Biden: FBI "is investigating this incident as an act of terrorism"

According to Breitbart, Biden made that point in a statement released on Wednesday, saying, "The FBI is taking the lead in the investigation and is investigating this incident as an act of terrorism."

The president then expressed gratitude "for the brave and swift response of local law enforcement in preventing even greater death and injury."

Happening Now: President Biden delivers remarks on the latest developments in New Orleans. https://t.co/oRhzQSLoAj

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 1, 2025

"I have directed my team to ensure every resource is available as federal, state, and local law enforcement work assiduously to get to the bottom of what happened as quickly as possible and to ensure that there is no remaining threat of any kind," he stressed.

Trump denounces "act of pure evil"

Biden went on to add that his "heart goes out to the victims and their families who were simply trying to celebrate the holiday."

Meanwhile, Breitbart noted that President-elect Donald Trump put out a statement of his own which read, "Our hearts are with all of the innocent victims and their loved ones, including the brave officers of the New Orleans Police Department."

"The Trump Administration will fully support the City of New Orleans as they investigate and recover from this act of pure evil!" he declared.

The FBI announced that the attack perpetrator has been identified as 42-year-old U.S. citizen and Texas resident Shamsud-Din Jabbar.

FBI looking at "potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations"

Jabbar used a rented pickup truck which was outfitted with an ISIS flag, which has the FBI looking into "potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations."

"After hitting the crowd, he exited the vehicle and fired upon local law enforcement. Law enforcement returned fire, and the subject was pronounced deceased at the scene. Two law enforcement officers were injured and transported to a local hospital," it stated.

The FBI's press release went on to explain that "[w]eapons and a potential IED were located in the subject's vehicle. Other potential IEDs were also located in the French Quarter."

"The FBI's special agent bomb technicians are working with our law enforcement partners to determine if any of these devices are viable, and they will work to render those devices safe," it noted.