CNN reported that early on the morning of January 1, 2025, while people were celebrating the New Year on Bourbon Street, a bustling area of New Orleans, Louisiana, a driver drove a pickup truck into a crowd, killing at least 15 people and injuring 35 others. The FBI is investigating the incident as an “act of terrorism.”
Suspects and motives
The FBI identified the suspect as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen and former soldier from Texas. The suspect was shot and killed in a shootout with police.
According to the FBI, an IS flag was found in the suspect's car at the time of the attack. The FBI is also investigating the suspect's possible links to terrorist organizations.
The suspect in the New Orleans attack made a series of videos before the morning of January 1, and law enforcement agencies are currently reviewing the material, according to multiple officials involved in the investigation.
The videos appear to have been taken while the suspect was driving at night. Due to poor lighting conditions, the suspect does not appear clearly in the videos, but authorities believe the videos were recorded while the suspect was driving from Texas to Louisiana, although the exact time has not been determined.
In the recordings, the suspect mentioned his divorce and said he had initially planned to gather his family for a “party” with the intention of killing them.
However, according to two officials briefed on the video, the suspect later changed his plans and announced he was joining IS. He also mentioned a number of dreams that prompted him to join the group.
Shamsud-Din Jabbar served in the Army from 2007 to 2020, including both active duty and reserve roles, according to a US Army spokesman.
Jabbar served as a human resources specialist and information technology specialist on active duty from March 2007 to January 2015, and deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010. He then transferred to the Army Reserve until July 2020, when he retired from the military with the rank of sergeant.
Before joining the Army, Jabbar served in the US Navy for a month in 2004, but was later discharged under the Delayed Entry Program.
Worrying discovery
The FBI said they do not believe the suspect acted alone. Authorities found multiple weapons and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the suspect's vehicle. Several other IEDs were also found in the surrounding area.
The attack occurred less than a mile from the site of the Sugar Bowl, the annual college football event. The game was postponed for 24 hours due to public safety concerns, according to a statement from the event's CEO.
The incident shocked public opinion, as New Orleans had just passed the meaningful moment of welcoming the new year and had to face the pain of a terrible car crash tragedy.
