The tragic shooting and ramming attack in New Orleans, which took place on New Year’s Day, has been confirmed as a possible terrorist act by the FBI. The suspect, identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a former U.S. Army veteran with a background in Afghanistan, was found to have an ISIS flag on his truck. Investigators suggest that Jabbar may have had assistance in carrying out the deadly assault that left 15 dead and at least 30 injured.
Jabbar, who initially rammed his vehicle into a crowd in the bustling French Quarter, proceeded to open fire on the victims. The incident, which occurred Wednesday, ended with a shootout between Jabbar and the police, resulting in his death. Upon investigation, authorities discovered guns and what appeared to be an improvised explosive device (IED) in the truck, along with several other dangerous devices. The ISIS flag was found attached to the trailer hitch of his vehicle.
U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed that the FBI uncovered videos posted by Jabbar on social media just hours before the attack. In these videos, Jabbar expressed his admiration for the Islamic State group and conveyed his desire to commit mass murder. According to reports, Jabbar mentioned in the footage that he had dreamed of joining ISIS and was inspired by their ideology. He also spoke of his plans to harm his family, although he later stated that he had joined ISIS instead.
FBI investigators have raised concerns that Jabbar may not have acted alone. “We do not believe that Jabbar was solely responsible,” an FBI official stated, revealing that the agency was looking into other potential suspects linked to Jabbar, including his associates. The investigation continues as authorities work to piece together the full extent of the attack.
Also read: New Orleans: 10 dead, 30 injured as pickup truck drives into crowd
Jabbar, a real estate worker in Houston, had served in the U.S. military for over ten years. He had been deployed to Afghanistan between 2009 and 2010 and held the rank of staff sergeant before leaving active duty in 2015. Jabbar’s military background and connection to ISIS are central elements in the investigation.
President Biden condemned the attack as a “despicable” act and mentioned that investigators were also exploring a possible connection between the incident and a Tesla truck explosion outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. However, he emphasized that there was no current evidence linking the two events. The FBI is continuing its investigation into both incidents, as the country grapples with the aftermath of this terrifying act of violence.
