New Orleans truck terror assault: FBI probes Bourbon St suspect’s radicalization

New Orleans continues to be reeling on Friday, the third day because the truck-ramming assault killed 14 folks, 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 photos Thursday displaying the now-deceased suspect – 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar – nearly an hour earlier than he allegedly sped a rented Ford pick-up via a crowd of Bourbon Road revelers within the assault that officers say was impressed by the Islamic State. Greater than 30 others had been injured. Regardless of beforehand investigating the potential of accomplices within the assault, the FBI stated Thursday the bureau is assured Jabbar acted alone. 

The investigation now turned to how Jabbar – a U.S. Military veteran who lately held a six-figure job – was radicalized. He grew up Muslim in Texas and most lately lived in Houston. 

“This investigation is simply a bit of greater than 24 hours outdated, and we’ve no indication at this level that anybody else was concerned on this assault aside from Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar,” FBI Deputy Assistant Director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 stated on Thursday. “The FBI is surging folks and property to this space from throughout the area and throughout the nation. Particular brokers in subject workplaces throughout the nation are aiding with potential points of this investigation and following up on leads. Extra groups of particular brokers, skilled workers, and sufferer specialists proceed to reach to offer 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 photos launched by the FBI present Jabbar, dressed neatly in an extended gentle brown coat, a darkish button-down shirt, blue denims, and brown costume sneakers, strolling alongside Dauphine St. close to Governor Nicholls St. at 2:03 a.m. CST – about an hour earlier than the assault. Extra photos confirmed coolers Jabbar allegedly positioned on the road. Officers stated he planted improvised explosive units inside with the intention of inflicting added carnage. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation launched photographs of surveillance footage that reveals 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 had been additionally looking out an Airbnb property in New Orleans rented by Jabbar that caught hearth early Wednesday morning, in addition to Jabbar’s residence 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, stated Antoinette de Alteriis, one of many organizers. She stated they anticipate near its typical crowd of round 30,000 members. 

The FBI has continued to hunt for clues about Jabbar however, a day into its investigation, the company stated 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 stated 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 risk. 

It additionally comes because the FBI and different companies brace for dramatic management upheaval, and certain coverage adjustments, after President-elect Donald Trump’s administration takes workplace.

BOMB-MAKING MATERIALS FOUND AT NEW ORLEANS AIRBNB POTENTIALLY TIED TO BOURBON STREET TERRORIST: REPORT

Raia careworn there was no indication of a connection between the New Orleans assault and the explosion Wednesday of a Tesla Cybertruck crammed with 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 stated. Two improvised explosive units left in coolers a number of blocks aside had been rendered secure on the scene. Different units had been decided to be nonfunctional.

Investigators additionally had been making an attempt to know extra about Jabbar’s path to radicalization, which they are saying culminated with him choosing 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 stated he initially deliberate to hurt his household and buddies however was involved information headlines wouldn’t concentrate on the “struggle between the believers and the disbelievers,” Raia stated. Jabbar additionally acknowledged he joined IS earlier than final summer time and offered a final will and testomony, the FBI stated.

Jabbar joined the Military in 2007, serving on lively responsibility in human sources and knowledge expertise and deploying to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010, the service stated. 

He transferred to the Military Reserve in 2015 and left in 2020 with the rank of workers sergeant. 

A half-brother of Jabbar instructed Fox Information that the alleged New Orleans attacker had been radicalized and struggled to seek out himself. 

Fox Information spoke with Abdur Rahim-Jabbar in Beaumont, Texas, the place they grew up alongside three extra siblings.

Abdur stated that they grew up Muslim, alongside along with his entire household. He stated that Jabbar stepped away from Islam, however discovered his means again following his 2022 divorce.

Jabbar struggled to seek out himself all through his life, his half-brother instructed Fox Information. He stated 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 stated that he was “in search of some sort of steering.” His half-brother blamed radicalization for the assault and stated that he didn’t see any indicators previous to the assault, in addition to expressing his condolences for the  lives misplaced. He stated this “was not a direct reflection of his brother and the Muslim neighborhood.”

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A U.S. authorities official instructed the Related Press on situation of anonymity that Jabbar traveled to Egypt in 2023, staying in Cairo for every 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 had been organized as memorials to the victims, whereas yellow posts had been arrange on the encompassing blocks. By Thursday night time, bouncers danced to music blasting from golf equipment, vacationers posed for photographs and a gaggle of road performers making ready to flip over a line of individuals had no bother attracting a large viewers.

Fox Information’ Brooke Taylor and the Related Press contributed to this report.