ISIS says it inspired the New Orleans attack but has not claimed responsibility

ISIS has paid tribute to the man who killed 14 people when he rammed his truck into a busy New Orleans street early on New Year’s Day, with the group claiming in a digital newsletter dated Thursday that his online propaganda inspired the attack.

The group said that the attacker who ran over pedestrians who were walking on Bourbon Street was “influenced by the rhetoric and messages of ISIS.” But her message stopped short of claiming responsibility.

The newsletter, obtained by the Countering Extremism Project, a terrorism watchdog, appeared to mock the US media for “holding its breath” while waiting for ISIS to claim responsibility for the attack.

While the ISIS message did not directly mention New Orleans, it described an attack by an American man and referenced Meta’s glasses. The FBI said the attacker was Shams al-Din Bahr Jabbar, He was wearing dead glasses. and The Countering Extremism Project said The ISIS message referred to the New Orleans attack.

The truck driven by Mr. Jabbar, a 42-year-old US Army veteran from Texas, bore an ISIS flag. Mr. Jabbar, who was killed in a shootout with New Orleans police, also left a chilling recorded message to his family, telling them he had joined the terrorist group.

Authorities denied that Mr. Jabbar had active links to the terrorist group, but the FBI said he was “100 percent inspired by ISIS.”

It is unclear what online content Mr. Jabbar may have consumed before the attack, but ISIS produces it weekly Newsletters As part of a sophisticated media operation that keeps its distant factions in touch.

Experts say this latest claim is unusual for the group.

“Unlike other attacks in the past, where ISIS issued a claim of responsibility for the attack, in this case, the group stated that the attacker was inspired by ISIS propaganda messages, but did not claim a direct relationship,” Joshua said. Fisher-Birch, researcher at the Countering Extremism Project.

The ISIS statement’s focus on the importance of people translating and sharing ISIS content, Mr. Fisher-Birch said, “indicates efforts to continue disseminating the group’s official messages and informal propaganda efforts by supporters.”

He added that the article contained a clear call for future attacks during special occasions and holidays.

Aaron Puckerman, Neil Macfarquhar and Alyssa J. Rubin Contributed to reports.