In a tragic occurrence on New Year's Day, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Army veteran and realtor from Houston, carried out a horrifying truck-ramming attack in New Orleans that resulted in significant casualties and devastation.
ABC News reported that during this brutal incident in the heart of the French Quarter, at least 14 people lost their lives and several were injured.
The assault commenced at 3:15 a.m. CT along a bustling three-block stretch of Bourbon Street. Jabbar, who had meticulously planned his actions, used a stolen truck as his primary weapon.
He rammed the vehicle into the crowded street where revelers were celebrating the arrival of the new year, leaving chaos and tragedy in his wake.
In the months leading up to the attack, Jabbar made several trips to New Orleans. During these visits, he utilized Meta smart glasses to record videos, notably during two scouting expeditions on a bicycle through the French Quarter in October and November 2024. This recording activity was part of his extensive preparation for the attack.
On the day of the attack, authorities revealed that Jabbar also wore Meta glasses. Lyonel Myrthil from the FBI clarified, “The suspect was also wearing Meta glasses when he allegedly executed the attack at 3:15 a.m. CT on Jan. 1 but did not record the attack or attempt to livestream it.” He added, “He was in town for at least two days. During that time, Jabbar, using Meta glasses, recorded a video as he rode through the French Quarter on a bicycle.”
Beyond using the truck as a weapon, Jabbar was armed with a 9mm semiautomatic pistol and a .308-caliber semiautomatic rifle with homemade silencers. These weapons were part of the deadly arsenal he employed during the attack, which ultimately led to a shootout with New Orleans police officers where Jabbar was killed.
Earlier on the day of the attack, Jabbar had also set a fire in the residence where he was staying and attempted to use improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
However, his plan to detonate these devices failed. Joshua Jackson from the ATF commented on this, stating, “He didn't use the right or correct device to set it off, and that is just indicative of his inexperience and lack of understanding how that material might be set off.”
Investigations into Jabbar's background revealed a complex figure who had professed support for ISIS. His international travels included trips to Cairo and Ontario, Canada, in mid-2023.
Despite these travels and his radical ideologies, there appears to be no evidence of accomplices within the U.S.
Christopher Raia from the FBI noted, "We have not seen any indications of an accomplice in the U.S., but we are still looking into potential associates in the U.S. and outside our borders.” This ongoing investigation aims to unveil any network or support system that might have influenced or assisted Jabbar in his preparations.
The New Orleans community and law enforcement quickly responded to the tragedy. The area was cordoned off and an intensive investigation ensued.
Investigators found bomb-making materials at Jabbar's Houston residence, providing further insight into the scale of his preparations.
This tragic event has spurred calls for increased security measures on public gatherings, especially during significant celebrations like New Year’s Eve. Meanwhile, the law enforcement community remains vigilant, trying to understand more about the radicalization processes and how such individuals execute these diabolical plans.