Heavy police activity seen in north Houston in connection to New Orleans terror attack, FBI says

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- Houston authorities are investigating an area on the city's northside in connection with Wednesday's deadly New Orleans attack.

Federal agents told Eyewitness News that FBI Houston and the Harris County Sheriff's Office are conducting law enforcement activity near the intersection of Hugh Road and Crescent Peak Drive in north Houston. ABC13 confirmed the activity surrounds a property where the suspect in the deadly attack recently lived.

The officers moved in on the area at about 3 p.m. Then shortly before 5 p.m., a man could be seen coming out of the residence with his hands in the air. There's no immediate word on what possible connection he may have to the investigation.

"We have secured a perimeter in that area and are asking people to avoid the area. FBI Houston personnel and specialized teams will be on-site for several hours. This activity is related to this morning's New Orleans attack, but due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, no further information can be provided," the FBI told 13 Investigates.

At least 15 people were killed and over two dozen injured after a Houston man reportedly drove a Ford pickup truck through a crowd on Bourbon Street at a high rate of speed early Wednesday, according to officials.

The suspect has been identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S.-born citizen and U.S. Army veteran from Houston, Texas. A spokesperson for the consulting firm Deloitte confirmed to ABC News that Jabbar worked for the company as a "Senior Solution Specialist" since 2021. A source confirmed to ABC News that he was still employed as of Wednesday morning.

Jabbar was driving a Ford F-150 Lightning truck during the terror attack during New Year celebrations in New Orleans. Sources confirmed with ABC13 that the truck has ties to the Houston area.

The electric truck with Texas plates was rented via the app Turo, a vehicle-sharing platform, from a man in Houston. Sources say the truck was then observed Tuesday in north Harris County around Treaschwig Road and Aldine Westfield Road around 10:15 a.m., and then again at 11:10 a.m.

At 12:15 p.m., the truck was reportedly observed in Baytown, Texas, heading east on I-10 in the direction of New Orleans, sources tell ABC13.

ABC News spoke to the truck's owner, who confirmed he rented the vehicle to an individual through Turo. The owner said he is currently talking to the FBI and declined to comment further.

READ MORE: New Orleans updates: 10 dead, dozens injured after vehicle plows into crowd in 'terrorist attack'

Jabbar, who was "hellbent" on killing as many people as possible, drove a pickup truck around barricades and plowed his vehicle through a crowd of New Year's revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans at a high rate of speed, leaving at least 15 dead and injuring dozens of others early Wednesday, city and federal officials said.

Explosive devices found in and around the scene on Bourbon Street were apparently found to be viable, multiple law enforcement sources also tell ABC News.

ABC News reports that some hotels are being evacuated in the area and that several controlled detonations have taken place.

After mowing down numerous people over a three-block stretch on the famed thoroughfare while firing shots into the crowd, Jabbar allegedly got out of the truck wielding an assault rifle and opened fire on police officers, law enforcement officials briefed on the incident told ABC News. Officers returned fire, killing him.

At least two police officers were shot and wounded, authorities said.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the horrific incident a "terrorist attack" and Attorney General Merrick Garland said the FBI is investigating it as an act of terror. The bloodshed comes on the heels of a deadly vehicle ramming attack in Germany. Fears of such attacks were a growing concern among law enforcement as well as attacks by lone actors at winter holiday events.

Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said Jabar had attempted to kill as many people as possible. A black flag appeared to be attached to the truck, but its significance was not immediately known.

RELATED: Witnesses describe scenes of carnage after New Orleans attack that left 10 dead

By the time the melee -- which was described by city officials as a "mass casualty incident" -- had ended, at least 35 people were injured, New Orleans police and city officials said. Most of the victims appeared to be local, officials said.

"He was hellbent on creating the carnage that he did," Kirkpatrick said at a news conference early Wednesday.

The New Orleans Police Department said the attack occurred despite the force being "staffed 100%" for New Year's Eve and the Sugar Bowl, a college football game played annually on New Year's Day. An additional 300 officers were on duty from partner agencies, the police department said.

Local authorities asked the FBI for assistance early on Wednesday, a senior federal law enforcement source told ABC News. A command center was being set up, the source said. The FBI was set to lead the investigation.

"A horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street earlier this morning," Gov. Jeff Landry said, adding that his family was praying for the victims and first responders.

Now, officials are working to do a background check on the gun and are searching surveillance cameras to try and get a timeline of the suspect's movements.