New Orleans faced a tragic incident on New Year’s Day as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old former US Army soldier, carried out a premeditated attack that resulted in the deaths of 14 people and injuries to around 30 others. The FBI has revealed that Jabbar, who proclaimed his support for the Islamic State (ISIS), had visited the city twice in the months leading up to the attack, with the first visit on October 30, 2024. He recorded video of the historic French Quarter while riding a bicycle and wearing Meta smart glasses to document his surroundings.

Further investigation revealed that Jabbar traveled internationally to Cairo and Ontario before ultimately leading to the rampage on Bourbon Street on January 1, 2025. The FBI tracked his movements back to a trip from June 22 to July 3, 2023, in Egypt, and a subsequent trip to Canada shortly after. On December 31, Jabbar made several purchases in Texas, including a cooler intended to hold an improvised explosive device (IED).

Just hours before the attack, Jabbar placed two IEDs at different locations along Bourbon Street, which fortunately failed to detonate. At approximately 3:15 a.m., he utilized a rented pick-up truck to ram into the crowd, triggering a police response that ultimately ended with Jabbar being fatally shot.

The FBI stated that all evidence suggested Jabbar acted alone during this attack. Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia emphasized ongoing investigations into Jabbar’s associates within the United States and abroad, highlighting their pursuit of leads not only in Louisiana but also in Florida and Georgia as well as previous international travels.

Following the incident, enhanced security measures have been discussed for the upcoming Super Bowl event in February, amidst significant public concern regarding safety during large gatherings in the wake of this attack. President Joe Biden is set to visit New Orleans to pay his respects to the victims.

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