New Orleans continues to be reeling on Friday, the third day for the reason that truck-ramming assault killed 14 individuals, in addition to the alleged terrorist who died throughout a shootout with police early on New 12 months’s Day.
The FBI launched new eerie surveillance pictures Thursday exhibiting the now-deceased suspect – 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar – nearly an hour earlier than he allegedly sped a rented Ford pick-up by a crowd of Bourbon Road revelers within the assault that officers say was impressed by the Islamic State. Greater than 30 others have been injured. Regardless of beforehand investigating the potential of accomplices within the assault, the FBI mentioned Thursday the bureau is assured Jabbar acted alone.
The investigation now turned to how Jabbar – a U.S. Military veteran who not too long ago held a six-figure job – was radicalized. He grew up Muslim in Texas and most not too long ago lived in Houston.
“This investigation is simply a bit greater than 24 hours outdated, and we’ve no indication at this level that anybody else was concerned on this assault aside from Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar,” FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia from the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters mentioned on Thursday. “The FBI is surging individuals and property to this space from throughout the area and throughout the nation. Particular brokers in subject places of work throughout the nation are helping with potential points of this investigation and following up on leads. Further groups of particular brokers, skilled employees, and sufferer specialists proceed to reach to supply extra investigative energy and help to the victims and their households.”
“Allow us to be very clear—what occurred right here in New Orleans was an act of terrorism. It was premeditated and an evil act,” he added.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT VICTIMS OF NEW ORLEANS TERRORIST ATTACK
The surveillance pictures launched by the FBI present Jabbar, dressed neatly in an extended mild brown coat, a darkish button-down shirt, blue denims, and brown gown footwear, strolling alongside Dauphine St. close to Governor Nicholls St. at 2:03 a.m. CST – about an hour earlier than the assault. Further pictures confirmed coolers Jabbar allegedly positioned on the road. Officers mentioned he planted improvised explosive units inside with the intention of inflicting added carnage.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation launched images of surveillance footage that exhibits Shamsud-Din Jabbar an hour earlier than he drove a truck down Bourbon Road, New Orleans, early Jan. 1, 2025. (Federal Bureau of Investigation through AP)
Federal authorities have been additionally looking out an Airbnb property in New Orleans rented by Jabbar that caught hearth early Wednesday morning, in addition to Jabbar’s home in Houston.
Bourbon Road — well-known worldwide for music, open-air consuming and festive vibes — reopened for enterprise by early afternoon Thursday.
The Sugar Bowl faculty soccer sport between Notre Dame and Georgia, which was postponed by a day within the curiosity of nationwide safety, was performed Thursday night. The Joan of Arc parade within the French Quarter continues to be scheduled to happen Monday to kick off carnival season forward of Mardi Gras, mentioned Antoinette de Alteriis, one of many organizers. She mentioned they count on near its typical crowd of round 30,000 individuals.
The FBI has continued to hunt for clues about Jabbar however, a day into its investigation, the company mentioned it was assured he was not aided by anybody else within the assault, which killed an 18-year-old aspiring nurse, a single mom, a father of two and a former Princeton College soccer star, amongst others.
The FBI mentioned that hours earlier than the assault, Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas, posted 5 movies on his Fb account during which he proclaimed his assist for the Islamic State group and previewed the violence that he would quickly unleash within the famed French Quarter district. It was the deadliest IS-inspired assault on U.S. soil in years, laying naked what federal officers have warned is a resurgent worldwide terrorism menace.
It additionally comes because the FBI and different businesses brace for dramatic management upheaval, and sure coverage modifications, after President-elect Donald Trump’s administration takes workplace.
Raia harassed there was no indication of a connection between the New Orleans assault and the explosion Wednesday of a Tesla Cybertruck full of explosives exterior Trump’s Las Vegas lodge.
The New Orleans assault plans additionally included the location of crude bombs within the neighborhood in an obvious try and trigger extra carnage, officers mentioned. Two improvised explosive units left in coolers a number of blocks aside have been rendered secure on the scene. Different units have been decided to be nonfunctional.
Investigators additionally have been making an attempt to grasp extra about Jabbar’s path to radicalization, which they are saying culminated with him selecting up a rented truck in Houston on Dec. 30 and driving it to New Orleans the next night time.
The FBI recovered a black IS flag from Jabbar’s rented pickup and reviewed 5 movies posted to Fb, together with one during which he mentioned he initially deliberate to hurt his household and associates however was involved information headlines wouldn’t deal with the “warfare between the believers and the disbelievers,” Raia mentioned. Jabbar additionally said he joined IS earlier than final summer time and supplied a final will and testomony, the FBI mentioned.
Jabbar joined the Military in 2007, serving on energetic responsibility in human sources and data know-how and deploying to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010, the service mentioned.
He transferred to the Military Reserve in 2015 and left in 2020 with the rank of employees sergeant.
A half-brother of Jabbar advised Fox Information that the alleged New Orleans attacker had been radicalized and struggled to search out himself.
Fox Information spoke with Abdur Rahim-Jabbar in Beaumont, Texas, the place they grew up alongside three extra siblings.
Abdur mentioned that they grew up Muslim, alongside along with his complete household. He mentioned that Jabbar stepped away from Islam, however discovered his method again following his 2022 divorce.
Jabbar struggled to search out himself all through his life, his half-brother advised Fox Information. He mentioned that his half-brother joined the Military to “discover one thing, to set him straight, floor him, and possibly discover a viable profession path.”
Following Jabbar’s two divorces, his brother mentioned that he was “searching for some kind of steerage.” His half-brother blamed radicalization for the assault and mentioned that he didn’t see any indicators previous to the assault, in addition to expressing his condolences for the lives misplaced. He mentioned this “was not a direct reflection of his brother and the Muslim group.”
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A U.S. authorities official advised the Related Press on situation of anonymity that Jabbar traveled to Egypt in 2023, staying in Cairo for per week, earlier than returning to the U.S. after which touring to Toronto for 3 days. It was not instantly clear what he did throughout these travels.
On Bourbon Road, flowers and candles have been organized as memorials to the victims, whereas yellow posts have been arrange on the encompassing blocks. By Thursday night time, bouncers danced to music blasting from golf equipment, vacationers posed for images and a bunch of road performers making ready to flip over a line of individuals had no hassle attracting a large viewers.
Fox Information’ Brooke Taylor and the Related Press contributed to this report.
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