OAN Staff Blake Wolf
5:54 PM – Monday, January 13, 2025
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security are reportedly concerned about a “possible copycat” of the vehicular ramming attack that stemmed from the New Orleans terrorist attack on New Year's Day.
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The New Year's Day attack was carried out by Shamsud Din Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran from Texas.
The truck Jabbar used in the attack, which he rented from an online site, plowed into people on Bourbon Street celebrating the New Year, killing 14 people and injuring 30 others.
Jabbar, who was killed in a shootout with police, was motivated by the radicalization of ISIS, law enforcement officials said, and federal agencies say ramming tactics could be a potential threat to future attacks. It has come to attract attention as a means of
It later emerged that Mr Jabbar had displayed an ISIS flag on the back of his truck during the attack.
“The FBI and DHS are concerned about the potential for copycat and retaliatory attacks as vehicle ramming continues to be cited as a tactic targeting violent extremist attackers. “Previous attackers inspired by Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) have used readily available rental, stolen, and privately owned vehicles,” the joint statement said.
“Some individuals may use additional weapons, such as firearms or knives, to attack individuals after the vehicle has stopped. Additionally, attackers may conceal and pre-place improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to supplement vehicle attacks. “Targets include pedestrians, law enforcement and military personnel, and crowded public places such as festivals and commercial centers that are generally accessible from roadways.”
Additionally, outgoing FBI Director Christopher Wray recently outlined how individuals can quickly become radicalized and lead to terrorist attacks, which has proven difficult for the FBI to prevent.
“Jabbar was radicalized online and determined to kill as many people as possible in the name of ISIS….This is in many ways the greatest terrorist threat we face. “It's a difficult type. You're talking about guys like this who become radicalized in weeks, not years, and whose methods of attack are still very deadly but pretty crude.” said.
The recent announcement does not provide information about specific copycat attacks, but rather asks the public to “remain vigilant” and “report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.”
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