NEW ORLEANS — A man linked to a tragic truck attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day, which resulted in the deaths of 14 individuals, had previously visited the city on two occasions and recorded footage of the French Quarter using Meta smart glasses, an FBI official disclosed on Sunday.
Shamsud-Din Jabbar traveled to various locations, including Cairo and Canada, prior to the incident; however, authorities have yet to establish any direct links between these trips and the attack. Christopher Raia, Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI, suggested that Jabbar, a U.S. citizen and former Army soldier, acted out of inspiration from the Islamic State militant organization.
Law enforcement fatally shot Jabbar, 42, during a confrontation following the deadly crash of the rented pickup truck on Bourbon Street, a renowned area in New Orleans’ historic French Quarter known for its lively atmosphere.
While federal authorities are investigating Jabbar’s connections, they currently believe he acted independently. “All investigative details and evidence we have thus far indicate that Jabbar operated alone in New Orleans,” stated Raia. He further noted that while there have been no signs of accomplices in the U.S., the investigation into potential associates both domestically and internationally remains ongoing.
Lyonel Myrthil, the FBI special agent overseeing the New Orleans Field Office, confirmed that Jabbar visited Cairo during the summer of 2023 before heading to Ontario, Canada shortly afterward. “Our agents are gathering information on his travels and interactions to determine how, if at all, they correlate with his actions here,” Myrthil explained.
Jabbar made two trips to New Orleans in the months leading up to the attack, first on October 31 and again on November 10. During his visit on Halloween, Myrthil reported that Jabbar recorded video footage while cycling through the French Quarter, using the Meta glasses as he planned the attack. Although Jabbar did possess the glasses capable of livestreaming during the attack, he chose not to turn them on.
A Meta spokesperson declined to comment regarding the glasses when approached. The FBI has since released footage captured during Jabbar’s planning session in New Orleans, including moments where he placed two containers with explosive devices in the French Quarter just before launching his assault. Notably, one of the containers, a cooler, was accidentally moved a block away by a bystander uninvolved with the attack.
Joshua Jackson, the special agent in charge of the New Orleans field office, noted that Jabbar had privately acquired a semiautomatic rifle in Texas on November 19 from an individual unaware of Jabbar’s radicalization or intent to commit violence. “This was a chance encounter,” Jackson commented.
In response to the attack, security measures have been heightened in downtown New Orleans. The police deployed barricades to limit vehicle access at Bourbon and Canal streets, with assistance from other law enforcement agencies. A spokesperson for the New Orleans Police Department remarked that additional security is in place as the city prepares for the first Carnival season parade, which leads up to Mardi Gras in March, as well as hosting the Super Bowl on February 9.
In a proactive effort to enhance safety in the French Quarter following previous incidents, the city installed retractable steel columns, known as bollards, to block vehicle access to Bourbon Street. However, the bollards became inoperable due to being obstructed by debris such as Mardi Gras beads. On New Year’s Eve, there were no operational bollards in place. Mayor LaToya Cantrell expressed concerns over whether the newly installed bollards would be effective in preventing similar vehicular attacks. “A thorough assessment will ascertain their strength, and I cannot say with certainty if they will suffice, but experts will provide guidance,” Cantrell remarked. Additionally, she has requested Homeland Security upgrade Mardi Gras to the highest Special Event Assessment Rating for enhanced federal security support.
In an effort to support the grieving community, President Joe Biden planned a visit to New Orleans with First Lady Jill Biden. After signing the Social Security Fairness Act, he shared with journalists his message to the families affected by the attack, remarking, “There’s not much you can say to those suffering such tragic loss; my message will be personal.”
The two explosive devices that Jabbar had placed were recovered, undetonated, by federal officials. ATF Special Agent Joshua Jackson praised the quick response of the New Orleans police, which prevented the devices from being triggered. The devices contained receivers, and a transmitter was located in Jabbar’s truck.
Following the crash, Jabbar exited the vehicle wearing body armor and opened fire on law enforcement, injuring at least two officers before being shot and killed. Materials used for bomb-making were discovered at his residence, with early tests indicating the presence of RDX, a chemical compound commonly accessible in the U.S. Testing on similar materials found at a rental property in New Orleans is ongoing.
On the evening of the attack, Jabbar attempted to ignite a fire at the rental house, but the flames were extinguished before firefighters could arrive. In the hours leading up to the attack, Jabbar publicly expressed support for the Islamic State in online videos, marking this incident as one of the deadliest IS-inspired attacks on U.S. soil in years, highlighting increasing concerns regarding threats from international terrorism.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas noted the rising risks of both foreign and homegrown violent extremism, emphasizing the growing security challenge. Security measures have been enhanced across the nation; for instance, military officials in California have tightened access to Camp Pendleton, the largest Marine base on the West Coast, implementing stricter checks for base entry and suspending certain access programs.
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