New Orleans was still reeling Friday, the third day since a truck ramming attack killed 14 people and a terrorist suspect was killed in a shootout with police early on New Year's Day.
The FBI said Thursday that the suspect, the late 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, allegedly sped away at high speed in a rented Ford pickup truck through a loud crowd on Bourbon Street during the attack. A new creepy surveillance image has been released. Officials say it was inspired by Islamic State. More than 30 other people were injured. Despite previously investigating possible accomplices in the attack, the FBI said Thursday it believed Mr. Jabbar acted alone.
The investigation now focused on how Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran who recently landed a six-figure job, became radicalized. He grew up Muslim in Texas and until recently lived in Houston.
“Although this investigation is only a little over 24 hours old, there is no indication at this time that anyone other than Shamsud Din Bahar Jabar was involved in this attack,” said FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division. ” he said. Headquarters made the announcement on Thursday. “The FBI is flooding the region with personnel and assets from locally and nationally. Special agents from field offices across the country are assisting with potential aspects of this investigation and pursuing leads. Special agents and Additional teams of specialist staff and victim specialists continue to arrive to provide more investigative powers and support to victims and their families.”
“Let me be clear: What happened here in New Orleans was an act of terrorism. It was a premeditated and evil act,” he added.
What we know about the victims of the New Orleans terrorist attack
Surveillance images released by the FBI show Jabbar wearing a long light brown coat, dark button-down shirt, blue jeans and brown dress shoes at 2:03 a.m. CST near Governor Nichols Street. He is seen walking down Dauphin Street. – About an hour before the attack. Additional images showed a cooler Jabbar allegedly placed on the street. Officials said the suspect planted an improvised explosive device inside the room with the intention of causing further carnage.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has released photos of surveillance footage from early January 1, 2025, showing Shamsuddin Jabbar driving his truck on Bourbon Street in New Orleans an hour before the incident. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, via AP)
Federal authorities were also searching an Airbnb property Jabbar rented in New Orleans, where a fire broke out early Wednesday morning, and Jabbar's home in Houston.
Bourbon Street, world-famous for its music, outdoor drinking and festive atmosphere, reopened by early Thursday afternoon.
The Sugar Bowl college football game between Notre Dame and Georgia, which was postponed by one day due to national security concerns, was played Thursday night. The Joan of Arc parade in the French Quarter will continue on Monday to kick off Carnival season ahead of Mardi Gras, said Antoinette de Artelis, one of the organizers. She said participants are expected to be close to the usual 30,000 participants.
The FBI has continued to search for clues about Ms. Jabbar, but in the first day of the investigation, the bureau revealed that Ms. He announced that he was confident that he had not received any. He is a father of two and a former Princeton University football star.
Hours before the attack, Jabbar, an American from Texas, posted five videos on his Facebook account in which he proclaimed support for Islamic State and showed off his support for the famous French Quarter neighborhood, the FBI said. It is said that he foretold the violence that would soon be revealed. . It was the deadliest Islamic State-inspired attack on U.S. soil in years, and exposed a resurgence of the international terrorism threat that federal officials have been warning of.
It also comes as the FBI and other agencies are bracing for the possibility of dramatic leadership disruption and policy changes after President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
Bomb-making materials found at AIRBNB in New Orleans, possibly linked to Bourbon Street terrorists: Report
Raia stressed there is no indication there is a connection between the New Orleans attack and Wednesday's explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck loaded with explosives outside President Trump's Las Vegas hotel.
The plan for the New Orleans attack also included planting crude bombs in the neighborhood in an apparent attempt to cause further carnage, officials said. Two improvised explosive devices left in a cooler several blocks away were made safe at the scene. Other devices have been determined to be non-functional.
Investigators were also trying to understand more about Jabbar's path to radicalization, which culminated in Jabbar picking up a rental truck in Houston on Dec. 30 and driving to New Orleans the next night. It is said that he drove up to
The FBI recovered a black Islamic State flag from Jabbar's rented pickup truck and examined five videos posted on Facebook. Some said they initially intended to harm family and friends, but were concerned that news headlines would not focus on the “war between believers and believers.” Ta. You unbelievers,” said Laia. The FBI said Jabbar joined IS and submitted a will before last summer.
Jabbar joined the Army in 2007, served on active duty in human resources and information technology, and was deployed to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010, the military said.
He transferred to the Army Reserve in 2015 and retired in 2020 with the rank of sergeant.
Jabbar's half-brother told Fox News that the alleged New Orleans attacker had become radicalized and was struggling to find himself.
Fox News interviewed Abdul Rahim Jabbar in Beaumont, Texas, where they grew up along with three other siblings.
Abdul said his entire family was raised as Muslims. He said Jabbar had left Islam but found his way back to it after their divorce in 2022.
Jabbar struggled to find himself throughout his life, his half-brother told Fox News. He said his half-brother joined the Army to “find something, straighten himself out, get some grit, and maybe find a viable career path.”
After being divorced twice, Jabbar said her brother is “looking for some guidance.” His half-brother blamed the attack on militants, said there were no warning signs before the attack, and expressed his condolences for the lives lost. He said this was “not a direct reflection of my brother and the Muslim community.”
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A U.S. government official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that Mr. Jabbar visited Egypt in 2023, stayed in Cairo for a week, returned to the United States, and then traveled to Toronto for three days. It wasn't immediately clear what he did during those trips.
Flowers and candles were laid out on Bourbon Street in memory of the victims, and yellow mailboxes were placed on surrounding blocks. By Thursday night, bouncers danced to music blaring from clubs, tourists took photos, and a group of street performers prepared to turn over lines of people effortlessly charmed a large audience.
FOX News' Brooke Taylor and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
