New Orleans, Louisiana – A terrorist attack in New Orleans’ French Quarter left 14 people dead and dozens injured when a man deliberately drove a pickup truck into New Year’s Day celebrations on Bourbon Street, according to FBI officials.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation identified the attacker as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a U.S. Army veteran and Deloitte employee from Texas. Jabbar died in an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement after the incident.
In the latest update on January 2, FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia confirmed Thursday that the attack was premeditated terrorism. Investigators discovered a black ISIS flag attached to the rental vehicle’s rear bumper, and social media posts from Jabbar indicated his allegiance to the terrorist organization.
President Biden addressed the nation Wednesday evening, revealing that Jabbar had posted videos expressing ISIS-inspired motivations and his intention to kill shortly before the attack. According to the FBI, Jabbar claimed to have joined ISIS before summer 2023 and had initially planned to target his family before deciding on a larger-scale attack.
The investigation revealed that Jabbar rented an electric Ford pickup truck on December 30 in the Houston area before traveling to New Orleans. Surveillance footage showed him placing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in coolers at multiple intersections along Bourbon Street before carrying out the vehicular attack.
While authorities initially suspected possible collaborators, FBI Deputy Assistant Director Raia stated Thursday that evidence suggests Jabbar acted alone. “It was premeditated and an evil act,” Raia said during a news conference.