New Orleans is still reeling after a truck-ramming attack on New Year’s Day that killed 14 people, including the alleged terrorist, and injured over 30 others. The FBI has released new surveillance images showing the suspect, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, just an hour before the attack, in which he allegedly sped a rented Ford pick-up through a crowd of Bourbon Street revelers.
The FBI is confident that Jabbar acted alone and is investigating how he was radicalized. Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran who recently held a six-figure job, grew up Muslim in Texas and most recently lived in Houston. The FBI has reviewed five videos posted to Facebook, including one in which Jabbar proclaimed his support for the Islamic State group and previewed the violence that he would soon unleash.
The investigation has turned to how Jabbar was radicalized, and officials are searching for clues about his path to extremism. Jabbar’s half-brother has said that he struggled to find himself and was looking for guidance after his second divorce.
The attack, which was inspired by the Islamic State, was the deadliest IS-inspired assault on U.S. soil in years. The FBI has released photos of surveillance footage that shows Jabbar an hour before the attack, as well as images of coolers he allegedly placed on the street, which contained improvised explosive devices.
Bourbon Street, which was closed after the attack, reopened for business on Thursday, and the Sugar Bowl college football game was played that evening. The Joan of Arc parade, which is scheduled to take place on Monday, is still expected to go ahead, with organizers expecting a crowd of around 30,000 participants.
The FBI has continued to hunt for clues about Jabbar, but a day into its investigation, the agency said it was confident he was not aided by anyone else in the attack. The investigation is ongoing, and officials are bracing for potential changes in leadership and policy under the new administration.