January 5th 2025.
In New Orleans, authorities have revealed new details about the man responsible for the truck attack that claimed the lives of 14 people on New Year's Day. According to an FBI official, Shamsud-Din Jabbar had visited the city twice before the attack, both times recording video footage of the famous French Quarter using Meta smart glasses. It was also discovered that he had traveled to Cairo and Canada prior to the attack, though it is not yet clear if these trips were connected to the incident. Jabbar, who was a U.S. citizen and former Army soldier, was believed to have been influenced by the Islamic State militant group in carrying out the attack.
During a press conference, Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia stated that Jabbar had acted alone in the attack, but investigators are still looking into his contacts. Lyonel Myrthil, the FBI special agent in charge of the New Orleans Field Office, revealed that Jabbar had also traveled to New Orleans twice in the months leading up to the attack, once in October and again in November. The agents are currently working on gathering information about these trips and any potential connections they may have to the attack.
It was also discovered that Jabbar had used his Meta smart glasses to record video footage while plotting the attack. On October 31st, he rode through the French Quarter on a bicycle, filming as he planned the attack. He also wore the glasses during the actual attack, but did not activate them. The FBI has released this footage, as well as footage of Jabbar placing two explosive devices in the French Quarter just moments before the attack. One of the devices, a cooler, was later moved by an uninvolved individual.
Further investigation revealed that Jabbar had purchased a semiautomatic rifle in a legal transaction in Texas just a few weeks before the attack. However, FBI special agent in charge Joshua Jackson stated that the seller had no knowledge of Jabbar's radicalization or his plans for the attack.
The attack has raised concerns about security in New Orleans, especially with major events like Mardi Gras and the upcoming Super Bowl. In the past, the city had installed steel columns known as bollards to restrict vehicle access to Bourbon Street, but they had become unreliable due to being clogged with Mardi Gras debris. Now, the city is installing new bollards, though there is uncertainty about whether they will be strong enough to prevent another vehicle attack. Mayor LaToya Cantrell has requested that Homeland Security upgrade Mardi Gras to the highest Special Event Assessment Rating in order to receive more federal support for security measures.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are scheduled to visit New Orleans on Monday to offer support and condolences to the families and community members affected by the attack. It was also revealed that two explosive devices placed by Jabbar were recovered undetonated, and that he had bomb-making materials at his home. The materials, which included a chemical compound called RDX, are commonly available in the U.S. Jabbar had also attempted to set fire to his rental home, but the flames were extinguished before they could cause significant damage.
Before carrying out the attack, Jabbar had posted videos online expressing his support for the Islamic State group. This attack serves as a reminder of the ongoing threat of both foreign and homegrown terrorism, as stated by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Myrthil also revealed that Jabbar had posted on encrypted applications and his own social media, and investigators are still working to determine his motives for targeting New Orleans.
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