NEW ORLEANS — A US Army veteran who drove a truck into a crowd of New Year's Day revellers in New Orleans had pledged allegiance to Islamic State, but acted alone in the attack that killed at least 14 people, the FBI said on Thursday (Jan 2).

The suspect, who the FBI said was shot dead at the scene after firing at police, has been identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Texan who once served in Afghanistan.

He drove from Houston to New Orleans on Dec 31. On the morning of the attack, between 1.29am local time and 3.02 am, he posted five videos on Facebook in which he said he supported IS, the Islamic militant group with fighters in Iraq and Syria, the FBI said.

The massacre in New Orleans's famed Bourbon Street nightlife district during a holiday celebration has made for an unnerving start to the new year in the US, with law enforcement officials across the country promising heightened security for upcoming public events.

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