The first lady and President Biden attend a memorial service for the victims of the Bourbon Street attack in New Orleans.

New Orleans, according to Biden, embodies fortitude and adaptability.

The first lady and President Biden attend a memorial service for the victims of the Bourbon Street attack in New Orleans.
The first lady and President Biden attend a memorial service for the victims of the Bourbon Street attack in New Orleans.

On Monday, President Biden and first lady Jill Biden honored the 14 victims who perished in the Bourbon Street terrorist attack in New Orleans by attending a memorial service.

An interfaith prayer service was hosted at the Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France, in the French Quarter, which is located less than a mile away from the scene of the attack where terrorist Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a pickup truck into a crowd of celebrants on New Year's Day.

At the conclusion of the service, Biden conveyed condolences to the victims' families.

"Biden, who will depart from the presidency in two weeks, stated, "The shock and pain is still so raw." He added, "My wife Jill and I are here to stand with you, grieve with you, pray with you, and let you know you are not alone — the rest of the nation is looking at you as well.""

Bidens sitting together
US President Joe Biden (R) and first lady Jill Biden (2nd R), alongside the Governor of Louisiana Jeff Landry (2nd L) and his wife Sharon Landry (L), attend an interfaith prayer service with the families and community members impacted by the Jan. 1 truck attack in New Orleans, at the Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France, in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Jan. 6, 2025. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)

The president commended the first responders who saved lives amid the chaos, as he recently met two officers who were injured during the attack.

"This city's people embody strength and resilience, as evidenced by their ability to recover from attacks, hurricanes, and superstorms," Biden stated. "The spirit of America is also defined by this tenacity."

The terrorist attack in New Orleans resulted in the death of Jabbar, bringing the total number of deaths to 15 and over 30 injuries.

The victims of the recent tragedy in New Orleans ranged in age from 18 to 63, with many of them hailing from different states across the U.S., including Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, and New Jersey.

Bidens walking in church
US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, alongside Archbishop Gregory Aymond (R), attend an interfaith prayer service with the families and community members impacted by the Jan. 1 truck attack in New Orleans, at the Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France, in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Jan. 6, 2025. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)

The investigation into the terrorist attack is ongoing, and federal and local officials are still collecting evidence. On Sunday, the ATF announced that its National Response Team had finished investigating Jabbar's Airbnb in New Orleans.

Jabbar, who rented a house on Mandeville Street and left it hours before unleashing his attack, attempted to destroy evidence by setting a fire at the rental house. However, the fire smoldered by the time authorities arrived, and accelerants that Jabbar strategically placed did not catch fire, allowing authorities to gather evidence.

Officials discovered RDX, or cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine, at the rental property. The agency pointed out that Jabbar inadvertently thwarted his plans by using an electric match to ignite explosive material that is usually detonated.

Bidens laying flowers
US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden lay flowers as they pay their respects to victims of the January 1 truck attack at a makeshift memorial in Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Janauary 6, 2025. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)

"The ATF's statement stated that Jabbar used an electric match instead of a detonator due to not having access to one. However, his lack of experience and crude nature in constructing the device led to him using the wrong explosive material."

Planet Chronicle Digital's Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.

by Andrea Margolis

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