A devastating terrorist attack, inspired by the vile ideology of ISIS, rocked New Orleans’ Bourbon Street, leaving 14 innocent Americans dead and 57 wounded. On Jan. 1, 2025, a radicalized Army veteran unleashed chaos in the heart of the French Quarter. Iraqi authorities have now arrested a key ISIS operative tied to this heinous crime.
Fox News reported that in the early hours of New Orleans’ New Year’s celebration, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a Texas native, drove a rented Ford F-150 into unsuspecting crowds, killing 14 and injuring dozens before police gunned him down.
Iraqi forces, acting on U.S. requests, apprehended an ISIS member on Tuesday for inciting the attack. The suspect’s identity remains undisclosed, but his role in ISIS’s Foreign Operations Office is confirmed.
Jabbar, a twice-divorced father with financial woes, was radicalized online in mere weeks, seduced by ISIS’s poisonous propaganda. Despite a well-paying job at a consulting firm, his struggles fueled his descent into extremism. The FBI believes he acted alone but hasn’t ruled out accomplices.
Jabbar’s sinister preparations began months earlier, with trips to New Orleans on Oct. 30 and Nov. 10, 2024. He used Meta smart glasses to record videos while biking through the French Quarter, likely scouting his target. He also traveled to Cairo and Toronto, though the purpose of those trips remains unclear.
On Dec. 31, 2024, Jabbar rented a Ford truck in Houston and drove to New Orleans. He checked into an Airbnb in the St. Roch neighborhood, just two miles from the French Quarter.
Authorities later found bomb-making materials and evidence of a fire at the rental, suggesting Jabbar tried to destroy incriminating evidence.
At 3 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2025, Jabbar plowed his truck into Bourbon Street revelers, killing 14 civilians. He then engaged in a deadly shootout with police, who neutralized him on the spot. The attack claimed 15 lives in total, including Jabbar’s.
Iraqi authorities, with support from the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation, arrested the ISIS suspect under Iraq’s stringent anti-terror laws. The First Karkh Investigation Court confirmed the suspect’s role in ISIS’s foreign operations. He will face trial in Iraq, a move that underscores global resolve against terrorism.
“A person involved in the terrorist ISIS organization was arrested for inciting the hit-and-run incident that occurred in the United States,” the Iraqi judiciary declared.
The statement highlighted the suspect’s ties to ISIS’s deadly agenda. This arrest marks a critical step in dismantling the networks that inspire such atrocities.
The FBI’s investigation remains active, with agents tirelessly pursuing every lead. “We continue to believe that Shamsud Din-Jabbar acted alone in attacking Bourbon Street,” the FBI’s New Orleans office stated. Yet, they urged the public to share tips at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.
Former FBI Director Christopher Wray described the chilling ease of Jabbar’s radicalization. “He appears to have been inspired – from afar – by ISIS,” Wray told “60 Minutes.” He noted that such rapid online radicalization poses a grave threat, with few warning signs.
“You’re talking about guys like this, who radicalize not in years but in weeks,” Wray explained. He emphasized the difficulty of detecting such threats, as there are “not a lot of dots out there to connect.” This reality demands vigilance from law enforcement and communities alike.
Jabbar’s background as an Army veteran adds a troubling layer to this tragedy. His financial struggles, including missed child support payments, may have made him vulnerable to extremist ideologies. Yet, his lucrative consulting job suggests deeper ideological motives drove his actions.
The collaboration between U.S. and Iraqi authorities highlights the importance of international partnerships in combating terrorism. Iraq’s swift action in apprehending the ISIS suspect sends a strong message to global terror networks. Such cooperation is vital to prevent future attacks on American soil.
The FBI continues to investigate whether Jabbar had accomplices, despite evidence suggesting he acted alone. This uncertainty keeps authorities on edge, as even lone wolves can be guided by shadowy figures abroad. The public’s role in reporting suspicious activity remains crucial.