A deadly vehicular attack on New Year's celebrations in New Orleans' French Quarter has exposed the rapid online radicalization of a US Army veteran.
According to Fox News, FBI Director Christopher Wray revealed that Shamsud-Din Jabbar, who killed 14 civilians in a truck attack on Bourbon Street, was radicalized by ISIS online in a matter of weeks before carrying out the deadly rampage.
The attack unfolded around 3:15 a.m. on January 1, when Jabbar drove a rented Ford F-150 truck through crowds celebrating New Year's on Bourbon Street. After the initial attack, he engaged in a shootout with police officers, which resulted in his death.
FBI Investigation Reveals Suspect's Recent International Travel History
The 42-year-old Texas native made several international trips in the months leading up to the attack. FBI records show Jabbar visited Cairo, Egypt, from June 22 to July 3, 2023, followed by a brief trip to Ontario, Canada, on July 10, 2023. These travels have become crucial elements in the ongoing investigation.
During the months before the attack, Jabbar conducted surveillance of the French Quarter, visiting New Orleans twice in October and November. He used Meta smart glasses to record videos while cycling through the area, suggesting careful planning of the attack.
FBI Director Christopher Wray shared his concerns about the evolving nature of lone-wolf terrorism during his appearance on "60 Minutes," stating:
It's pretty clear so far that this is a guy who was radicalized online and who was determined to try to murder as many innocent people as he could in the name of ISIS.
Evidence Points To Premeditated Terror Plot In French Quarter
The attack was meticulously planned, with Jabbar renting the truck in Houston on December 31 before driving to New Orleans. He then checked into an Airbnb property in the St. Roch neighborhood, approximately two miles from the French Quarter.
Investigators later discovered bomb-making materials and evidence of attempted destruction at the rental property. They believe Jabbar tried to destroy evidence by setting fire to materials at the location before carrying out the attack.
The FBI maintains that while Jabbar appears to have acted alone, they continue to investigate possible connections to other individuals. Wray emphasized the challenges of preventing such attacks, explaining:
[H]e appears to have been inspired — from afar — by ISIS. And it is, in many ways, the most challenging type of terrorist threat we face. You're talking about guys like this, who radicalize not in years but in weeks, and whose method of attack is still very deadly but fairly crude. And if you think about that old saying about connecting the dots, there are not a lot of dots out there to connect. And there's very little time in which to connect them.
Modern Terror Threats Present New Challenges For Law Enforcement
Recent patterns suggest an increase in lone-wolf terrorism attempts within the United States. Wray cited a recent case involving a Pakistani citizen who planned to conduct a mass shooting at a Jewish Center in Brooklyn, aiming to execute what would have been the largest attack since 9/11.
The investigation has revealed that Jabbar, despite working at a prominent consulting firm, faced financial difficulties and struggled with child support payments. His background as a twice-divorced Army veteran adds another layer to the complex profile of modern terrorist threats.
Next Steps In The Investigation Of ISIS-Inspired Attack
The New Year's Day attack in New Orleans, resulting in 14 civilian deaths, represents a frightening example of rapid online radicalization by ISIS. Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the 42-year-old Army veteran responsible for the attack, transformed from a civilian into a terrorist operative within weeks through online influence.
The FBI's ongoing investigation focuses on understanding the digital pathways that enabled such swift radicalization while examining potential connections to international terrorist networks. Law enforcement agencies are particularly interested in Jabbar's recent travels to Egypt and Canada, as well as his surveillance activities in New Orleans, as they work to prevent future attacks of this nature.
