A terrorist attack inspired by the extremist group ISIS left 14 people dead and 37 injured in New Orleanswhen a man identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbara Texas-born American citizen and Army veteran, rammed a pickup truck into a crowd celebrating the New Year at the iconic Bourbon Street.
As reported by the FBI and the ATF In a joint statement, Jabbar had planned to detonate two explosive devices placed nearby, using a remote transmitter that was found in his vehicle. However, the explosives failed to activate, which prevented an even greater tragedy.
According to NBC Newsthe explosive devices were found inside coolers in two locations in the French Quarterone of the busiest areas of the city. The authorities are still investigating why they did not detonate, considering hypotheses such as technical failures or errors in their activation. In addition to the transmitter, two firearms were found in the attacker’s vehicle, which, along with the explosives, have been sent to an FBI laboratory for analysis.
The attack has raised concerns among authorities due to the nature of the explosive compound used in the devices. According to two senior security officials, NBC Newsthis is an extremely rare material that had not previously been used in attacks in the United States or Europe.
This finding led researchers to focus on how Jabbar acquired the knowledge necessary to make the explosives and how he obtained the materials. The provenance of this information and its ability to produce the compound are now key elements in the research.
The attack was not limited to the attack on Bourbon Street. According to the joint statement of the FBI and the ATFJabbar also burned down a short-term rental home on the street Mandevillewhere bomb-making materials and a homemade device suspected to be a rifle silencer were found.
Although the fire was extinguished before it spread, it allowed authorities to recover crucial evidence. Investigations have determined that Jabbar acted alone in this incident, and no accomplices have been identified.
Jabbar, 42, was an American citizen born in Texas and with military experience. According to Fox Newsauthorities are investigating how and when he became radicalized, as the attacker claimed to be inspired by ISISalthough no evidence has been found that he received direct orders from the extremist group.
He FBI informed Congress that it had no prior information on the defendant before the attack, raising questions about how it slipped through counterterrorism surveillance systems.
The president Joe Bidenin a press conference, confirmed that authorities are exploring possible links between the New Orleans attack and an explosion investigated as a terrorist act in vegasalthough so far no evidence has been found connecting both incidents.
Biden urged investigators to accelerate their efforts and assured that all possible leads are being followed. According to the FBIthe suspect in the Las Vegas case, identified as Matthew Livelsbergeris also being investigated for possible connections to Jabbar, although a definitive link has not been established.
The attack left 37 people injured, who were treated in hospitals in New Orleans. According to Fox Newsthe health system LCMC Health has not provided details on how many patients have been discharged or the current status of those hospitalized. The local community is shocked by the magnitude of the tragedy, and President Biden, along with the first lady Jill Bidenwill travel to New Orleans on Monday to participate in a period of mourning in honor of the victims.
