The FBI provides an update on the New Orleans truck attack that killed 14 people

The FBI on Thursday (January 2) provided an update on a US Army veteran’s rampage in New Orleans. 14 people died and at least 35 were injured Shams al-Din Jabbar He drove his Ford pickup truck through a crowd of people on New Year’s Day.

according to Associated PressThe law enforcement agency confirmed that Shams al-Din acted alone in the attack. However, he was inspired by the Islamic State.

The Associated Press reported that this was the deadliest ISIS-inspired attack on American soil in years. Among the deceased was an 18-year-old aspiring nurse, a single mother, a father of two, and a former Princeton football star.

More details about the New Orleans attack

The FBI also revealed more details about the now-deceased driver, who was a US citizen from Texas. Hours before the attack, Shams al-Din Jabbar He posted five video clips on his Facebook account in which he declared his support for the terrorist organization ISIS.

Jabbar also warned in his videos The violence he planned to commit in the famous French Quarter of New Orleans. One of the clips shows him confessing that he first planned to harm his family and friends. But he changed his mind because he was afraid that the news headlines would not focus on “the war between believers and unbelievers.”

“This was an act of terrorism. It was a premeditated, evil act,” said Christopher Raya.

Christopher is Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. He assured the audience that Jabbar was “100% inspired” by ISIS. As we mentioned, Jabbar killed 14 people celebrating Eid when he sped around a barrier and into a crowd of people. He later died during an exchange of gunfire with police.

According to the FBI, Shams al-Din Jabbar boarded a rented truck in Houston on December 30 and then drove it to New Orleans the next day. Surveillance video later shows Jabbar placing an explosive device in a cooler along Bourbon Street in the city. However, the agency is confident that no one else shown in the footage helped Jabbar carry out the attack. Investigators still plan to interview them as witnesses. A powerful device was placed in the cooler, and another device was secured at the scene. Other devices he had installed were out of order.

The FBI also recovered a black ISIS flag from Jabbar’s rental pickup truck. In addition, he left a last will and testament, the agency said.

Shams al-Din Jabbar’s brother speaks

For context, Jabbar joined the Army in 2007, where he served active duty in human resources and information technology and deployed to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010. He then transferred to the Army Reserve in 2015 and left in 2020 with the rank of staff sergeant.

Abdul Rahim JabbarJabbar’s younger brother told The Associated Press on Thursday that it “doesn’t seem real” that his brother would have done this.

“I never thought it would be him,” he said. “It’s very different from him.”

He said that his brother had been isolated for the past few years, but that he had also been in contact with him and had not seen any signs of extremism. “It’s completely at odds with who he is and how his family and friends know him.” The brother said.

Meanwhile, swipe below to see how President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump reacted to the incident.

FBI shuts down any connections between New Orleans and Las Vegas attacks

New Orleans authorities finished processing the crime scene early Thursday morning, including removing the last of the bodies. Bourbon Street — world-famous for its music, outdoor drinks and festive atmosphere — reopened for business in the early afternoon.

More than 1,500 miles away in Las Vegas, another accident occurred, killing one person and injuring others. Local police are still investigating whether the incident was a targeted attack or a terrorist attack. However, it has been confirmed that the New Year’s Day explosion was not a mechanical issue with the Cybertruck. The accident occurred in front of the Trump International Hotel.

Raya of the FBI has confirmed that there is No connection Between what happened in New Orleans and Las Vegas.

Related to: Officials explain the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel on New Year’s Day

---

Associated Press reporters who contributed to this report include Eric Tucker, Jim Mustan, Kevin McGill, Ak Brock, Steven Smith, Chevelle Johnson, Brett Martell, Jeff Martin, Alana Durkin Richer, Tara Cobb, Zeke Miller and Darlene Superville in New Castle ,Colin. Long, and Michael R. Sisak.