The man behind the New Year’s Day truck attack in New Orleans, which killed 14 people, visited the city twice prior and recorded video of the French Quarter using Meta smart glasses, the FBI disclosed on Sunday.
The suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old former US Army soldier, was reportedly inspired by the Islamic State militant group, according to Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia.
Jabbar, a US citizen, travelled to Cairo and Canada in 2023, but it remains unclear whether these trips were linked to his attack.
FBI special agent Lyonel Myrthil revealed that Jabbar first visited New Orleans on October 31, 2023, where he used smart glasses to record the French Quarter while riding a bicycle, allegedly plotting the attack. Jabbar returned on November 10 and later wore the glasses during the attack, although he did not activate them.
Jabbar was killed in a shootout with police after crashing a rented truck on Bourbon Street, a famous destination in New Orleans’ historic French Quarter. The FBI believes he acted alone but continues to investigate his contacts within and outside the US.
“We have not seen any indications of an accomplice in the United States,” Raia said.
Authorities reported Jabbar purchased a semiautomatic rifle legally in Texas on November 19, describing it as a chance encounter during a private transaction. Jabbar also placed two explosive devices in the French Quarter shortly before the attack, both of which were recovered undetonated by federal agents. Bomb-making materials, including RDX, were later found at Jabbar’s homes in Houston and New Orleans.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell acknowledged ongoing security challenges, noting that bollards meant to block vehicle access to Bourbon Street were not operational during the attack. She has requested Homeland Security to elevate Mardi Gras to the highest Special Event Assessment Rating for increased federal support.
The incident has sparked nationwide security measures, including tightened access at California’s Camp Pendleton military base. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden plan to visit New Orleans on Monday to meet with the victims’ families and the affected community.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned of growing threats of homegrown extremism, calling the New Year’s attack the deadliest Islamic State-inspired assault on US soil in years. He stressed the increasing danger of both foreign and domestic terrorism.
Jabbar’s attack has left New Orleans grieving while preparing for upcoming major events, including Carnival parades and the Super Bowl, under heightened security measures.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
Follow us on:
