New Orleans Terrorist Attack: FBI Unveils Evidence of Suspect’s Movements and Preparations
The FBI has released new details about the man behind the deadly New Year’s Day terrorist attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, from Houston, allegedly acted alone in the attack that killed 14 people and injured dozens more.
According to FBI officials, Jabbar traveled to Cairo, Egypt, from June 22 to July 3, 2023, and then returned to the US. He made a separate trip to Ontario, Canada, on July 10, 2023, and returned to the US a few days later. Additionally, he visited Tampa, Florida, recently. Jabbar also made at least two trips to New Orleans in October and November prior to the attack, and recorded video of Bourbon Street with Meta smart glasses.
The FBI is investigating whether Jabbar had any associates in the US or overseas, and while it is unclear whether his trips were connected to the attack, officials have not found any evidence of an accomplice in the US, but are still looking into potential associates.
Jabbar, an Army veteran, plowed a rented Ford pickup truck into a crowd of revelers, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more. He was inspired by the Islamic State and wore Meta glasses during the attack, but did not activate them to live stream the event. Investigators recovered a black ISIS flag from the truck, and found that Jabbar had pledged allegiance to ISIS in online videos posted hours before the attack.
The FBI also found evidence that Jabbar set a fire on Mandeville Street as a distraction before carrying out the attack, and purchased ice chests in Texas on December 31, 2024, which he used to hide IEDs before entering Louisiana.
Jabbar’s attack was foiled when he botched the detonation of the IEDs, which were meant to be set off during the attack. President Biden is set to visit New Orleans on Monday to “grieve with the families and community members impacted by the tragic attack.”
