Posted on 01/01/25
| News Source: CNN
New Orleans, LA – Jan. 1, 2025 - The FBI is intensively investigating the tragic attack on Bourbon Street that claimed at least ten lives early on New Year’s Day. The suspect, 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran from Texas, drove a pickup truck into a crowded tourist area in the French Quarter and left behind significant evidence pointing to a larger plot.
At a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, FBI Special Agent in Charge Alethea Duncan confirmed that Din Jabbar was an Army veteran who was believed to have received an honorable discharge. Investigators are working with the U.S. Army and the National Guard to gather more information about his background and potential motives.
Surveillance footage discovered shortly after the incident showed multiple suspects—three men and one woman—placing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the French Quarter before the attack. According to an intelligence bulletin from the Louisiana State Police, the suspects concealed the devices inside coolers and wired them for remote detonation. A remote control matching the IEDs was later found in the suspect’s vehicle.
During the same press conference, Duncan revealed that the vehicle used in the attack had an ISIS flag on its trailer hitch. Weapons and additional IEDs were also discovered inside the truck. Duncan stated that the FBI is investigating Jabbar's potential connections to the terrorist organization and does not believe he acted alone.
“We are aggressively pursuing every lead, including those involving his known associates,” Duncan said. “We are asking for the public’s help as we continue to unravel this incident.”
The attack left the French Quarter in lockdown with a heavy police and FBI presence as investigators work to understand the scope of the event and prevent further harm. Authorities are determining the extent of the suspect’s affiliations and whether others involved remain at large.