The New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans, which claimed the lives of 14 people and injured dozens more, has been under intense investigation by the FBI. The suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was killed in a shootout with police at the scene after he drove a rented truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street. New details released by the FBI reveal a premeditated attack with chilling technological and international connections. The investigation uncovered video footage recorded by Jabbar himself, captured on camera-equipped glasses designed by Meta. This footage documents Jabbar cycling through the French Quarter in October, just months before the attack, offering a disturbing glimpse into his pre-attack reconnaissance. Another visit to New Orleans took place in November, though it remains unclear whether he recorded footage during that trip. While Jabbar was wearing the glasses during the attack, there’s no indication the camera was actively recording. The FBI has also released surveillance footage showing Jabbar placing coolers containing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on Bourbon Street.
The FBI has also shed light on Jabbar’s international travels prior to the attack. He traveled to Cairo, Egypt, in late June and early July 2023, with a brief stop in Ontario, Canada, before returning to the United States. The purpose and potential connections of these trips to the attack remain under investigation. The timeline leading up to the attack reveals meticulous planning and acquisition of materials. Jabbar visited multiple gun stores, including one in Texas on December 31st, where he purchased a cooler later used to conceal an IED. He arrived in Louisiana on December 31st, and surveillance footage captured him unloading a white pickup truck outside his rental home in New Orleans just hours before the attack. The rental home itself became a focal point in the investigation, where authorities found materials suspected to be for making explosives and a rifle silencer. Inside the truck used in the attack were multiple weapons and a transmitter to detonate the explosives left on Bourbon Street.
The attack unfolded in the early hours of January 1st, approximately 3:15 a.m., when Jabbar drove the truck into the crowd of pedestrians on Bourbon Street. The ensuing shootout with police resulted in the deaths of Jabbar and two injured officers. Authorities subsequently responded to a fire at Jabbar’s rental home, later determining he had set the fire just before the attack. The FBI’s investigation has revealed several disturbing indications of ISIS influence. An ISIS flag was discovered on the trailer hitch of the rented truck, and Jabbar posted videos to Facebook hours before the attack claiming allegiance to ISIS, expressing his desire for the attack to be perceived as a “war” between believers and non-believers. Despite these indicators, the FBI currently believes Jabbar acted alone.
The released video footage recorded by Jabbar on his Meta-designed glasses provides a unique and unsettling perspective on his activities leading up to the attack. While the footage from October shows him simply cycling through the French Quarter, the context of his later actions imbues this seemingly innocuous activity with a sense of chilling premeditation. The fact that he wore the glasses during the attack, even if not recording, raises questions about his intentions and whether he envisioned documenting the event. The footage of him placing the IED-laden coolers on Bourbon Street further underscores the calculated nature of his plan.
The emerging details of Jabbar’s international travels and gun purchases paint a picture of a man meticulously preparing for the attack. The trip to Cairo,Egypt, and the brief stop in Canada raise questions about his contacts and potential motivations. His visits to gun stores and the purchase of coolers used to conceal explosives demonstrate a deliberate effort to acquire the necessary tools for his deadly plan. The discovery of bomb-making materials and a rifle silencer at his rental home further solidifies the picture of a premeditated act of violence.
The attack, occurring in the heart of New Orleans’ vibrant French Quarter during New Year’s celebrations, has deeply impacted the community and the nation. The loss of 14 lives and the injuries sustained by dozens more have left a scar on the city. The FBI’s ongoing investigation aims to uncover the full extent of Jabbar’s motivations and any potential connections to external groups. The evidence thus far points towards an ISIS-inspired attack, but the question of whether he acted entirely alone remains central to the investigation. The tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing threat of extremism and the vulnerability of public spaces. The use of readily available technology, like the Meta glasses, to document pre-attack activities highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in the digital age.
