Newly released information from the FBI sheds light on the actions of Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the perpetrator of the New Year's Day terrorist attack in New Orleans, which claimed the lives of 14 people. The FBI detailed Jabbar's international travels prior to the attack, including trips to Cairo, Egypt, and Ontario, Canada, during the summer of 2023. He also visited Tampa, Florida, and made multiple trips to New Orleans in the months leading up to the attack, even capturing video footage of Bourbon Street using Meta smart glasses.
While the connection between these trips and the attack remains under investigation, the FBI is actively exploring whether Jabbar had any collaborators within the United States or abroad. Despite these inquiries, current evidence suggests that Jabbar acted alone in perpetrating the attack.
Jabbar, a Houston-based Army veteran, drove a rented Ford pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street. Officials have linked the attack to ISIS inspiration. The attack resulted in numerous injuries in addition to the fatalities, and Jabbar was ultimately killed in a shootout with law enforcement. Although he wore Meta glasses during the attack, he did not livestream the event.
Authorities recovered an ISIS flag from the truck and discovered online videos in which Jabbar pledged allegiance to the terrorist group just hours before the attack. He also set a fire on Mandeville Street prior to the Bourbon Street attack, potentially as a diversionary tactic. Furthermore, the FBI revealed Jabbar's attempt to detonate improvised explosive devices (IEDs) hidden in ice chests purchased in Texas. He placed these IEDs at two locations on Bourbon Street but failed to detonate them properly due to his use of an electric match instead of a proper detonator, highlighting his lack of expertise with explosives.
The New Orleans coroner’s office has released the identities of all 14 victims, ranging in age from 18 to 63. President and First Lady Biden are scheduled to visit New Orleans to offer condolences to the families and community affected by the tragedy.
