NEW ORLEANS – The truck assault on New Year’s Day that resulted in 14 fatalities and numerous injuries seems to have been carried out by a single perpetrator, and is believed to be unrelated to a truck explosion in Las Vegas, authorities stated on Thursday.

The assailant, identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was shot and killed by police at the incident site. Christopher Raia, a deputy assistant director with the FBI’s counterterrorism division, reported that investigators were looking into over 400 tips connected to the attack. Raia noted early evidence suggests Jabbar acted independently, contradicting earlier statements from FBI agent Alethea Duncan who suggested he might not be “solely responsible.”

Raia mentioned that in the hours leading up to the attack, Jabbar posted videos online declaring his allegiance to the ISIS terrorist group since the previous year. The recordings suggested he initially intended to target friends and family but opted instead to carry out an assault aimed at drawing media attention to the alleged “war between believers and non-believers.”

“This act is classified as terrorism. It was deliberate and malign,” Raia declared, identifying Jabbar as “truly motivated by ISIS.”

During a news conference at the White House, President Joe Biden confirmed Jabbar possessed a remote detonator within his truck, intended to trigger explosives that were concealed in two ice coolers located on Bourbon Street. Those devices did not detonate.

Officials are also probing a potential terrorist link in Las Vegas following an explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck parked outside the Trump International Hotel on Wednesday, which left several pedestrians injured. FBI special agent Spencer Evans mentioned no ties to terrorist groups had been identified. It’s been confirmed that the individual inside the vehicle, Matthew Livelsberger—a Green Beret on active duty—died by suicide from a gunshot before the explosion, and damage from the incident was minimized due to the vehicle’s design.

Biden noted that federal investigators are examining the possibility of a connection between the two incidents. However, FBI representatives indicated on Thursday that no obvious relationship has emerged. “Currently, we see no clear link between the events in New Orleans and Las Vegas,” Raia stated.

In New Orleans, the iconic French Quarter was bustling with tourists and locals on Thursday as they awaited the reopening of Bourbon Street, which resumed activity around 1 p.m. The FBI had previously restricted access to this cherished area of the city for investigation purposes.

Authorities returned control of Bourbon Street to local officials early Thursday, allowing its reopening just before the scheduled kickoff of the postponed Sugar Bowl college football game at the nearby Superdome, which seats 70,000.

Latest Updates:

∎ Biden consulted with homeland security team members in the White House Situation Room to receive the latest details regarding the New Orleans incident.

∎ FBI’s counterterrorism division assistant director David Scott provided a briefing to the House Homeland Security Committee, along with Louisiana delegation members, about the truck attack.

Biden Confirms Jabbar’s Explosives Were in Ice Coolers

Biden disclosed the specifics about the detonator found in Jabbar’s truck during a press brief after discussing details with homeland security officials in the White House. The explosives that Jabbar placed in ice coolers at two separate Bourbon Street locations failed to explode.

“Currently, we have no indications that anyone else played a role in the attack,” Biden emphasized during the briefing, echoing the findings from the FBI released earlier on Thursday. “They’ve confirmed that the individual responsible for the explosives at both sites was indeed Jabbar.”

According to the FBI, Jabbar shared five videos on social media, showing his allegiance to the ISIS terror group around an hour and a half before the 3:15 a.m. CST assault. An ISIS flag was also discovered in the truck’s cargo area.

Biden noted that there has been “no evidence” found connecting the New Orleans attack with the explosion involving the Tesla Cybertruck in Las Vegas. The connection between suspects in both cases is that they have ties to the U.S. military.

“I have instructed my team to expedite these investigations, ensuring we gather answers to our outstanding questions and allocating every necessary resource for this task,” Biden stated. “We will release factual information to the public as soon as we have it, so there won’t be any uncertainty.”

No Significant Threat Identified Prior to Incident

Officials reported that there was no indication of a “credible threat” to New Orleans’ New Year celebrations before the recent attack, as per a threat assessment from both Louisiana and New Orleans police, which was obtained by Reuters. This assessment, dated December 2024, highlighted the absence of credible threats from either international extremist groups or domestic violent actors.

The report emphasized concerns regarding “unaffiliated lone offenders and homegrown violent extremists” due to their tendency to remain unnoticed until they execute their plans. Authorities also cautioned that international terrorist groups continue to urge individuals to carry out independent attacks within the U.S., employing improvised explosive devices and vehicles in their acts.

Family Member of Jabbar Shocked by Incident

A relative, choosing to remain anonymous for safety reasons, expressed disbelief, stating, “I don’t think he acted on his own accord.”

“I could never envision him doing anything like that,” they added. “Perhaps he just lost control… If it’s true he did this, I just can’t see it happening.”

This relative mentioned that the Jabbar family is “managing well” but is still grappling with shock over the New Orleans events.

− Phaedra Trethan

Bourbon Street Reopens, Hospitality Workers Celebrate

Bourbon Street resumed operations at about 1 p.m. local time on Thursday, drawing immediate crowds of visitors despite heightened police security. “We’re open! We’re open!” shouted security guard Harry Walker, 32, as he held open the doors of one of the street’s popular Slush Daiquiris establishments. Walker remarked that the street’s closure had impacted bartenders and servers who rely on tips from tourists, considering Louisiana’s tipped workers earn a baseline wage of $2.13 per hour.

Among the early visitors was Ashleigh Armstrong, celebrating her 40th birthday with family from west Tennessee. They began their trip to New Orleans on Wednesday without knowledge of the recent attack. “It feels somber. It’s surreal,” Armstrong reflected. “Without the usual crowds, you notice things you’ve never seen before.”

Earlier that day, tourists clad in jerseys from Georgia and Notre Dame appeared eager to return to normalcy, forming lines for jazz brunch outside various eateries as they awaited the reopening of Bourbon Street. Inside the French Truck Coffee restaurant on Canal Street, general manager Beth Walker received cheers from patrons in line as she promoted the Notre Dame-Georgia matchup.

“Thank you for giving the city a chance,” she said as the crowd responded with applause. “We truly appreciate it.”

Jihadist Enthusiasts Celebrate New Orleans Attack; No Official Statement from ISIS

While Islamic State’s official channels have not yet responded to the violent incident in New Orleans, there have been some tentative gestures of celebration from ISIS “fanboys” on social media, according to a specialist in jihadi communications.

“These fanboys and fan girls are thrilled about a successful attack in the U.S. since there haven’t been many recent incidents,” stated Devorah Margolin, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Reports indicate Jabbar had expressed loyalty to the global terrorist organization through videos created prior to the attack. Margolin noted that while ISIS typically does not claim responsibility for attacks it hadn’t orchestrated, it occasionally acknowledges such events. For instance, ISIS applauded the 2015 mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, although it was executed by a married couple independently. An official response regarding Jabbar’s actions might take several days.

Since the collapse of the ISIS “caliphate” in Syria in 2019, the group’s coordinated propaganda efforts—previously known for producing high-quality recruitment videos—have fragmented globally, and “is no longer what it once was,” Margolin remarked.

– Dan Morrison

Security Specialist: Preventing Determined Terrorists is ‘Extremely Challenging’

Dale Buckner, CEO of Global Guardian, a global security firm, articulated to YSL News that the main lesson from the attack is that “anything can transpire anywhere.” He identified public events like holiday celebrations, markets, concerts, and religious gatherings as prime “soft targets” for extremists. Buckner asserted that cities like New Orleans need to reassess their security measures.

“Terrorists will always pursue the path of least resistance, and stopping someone willing to sacrifice their life is incredibly challenging,” Buckner explained. He suggested that even with obstacles like bollards to restrict vehicle access, Jabbar could have employed a makeshift suicide vest containing IEDs within a crowded venue.

Jabbar Resided in Predominantly Muslim Neighborhood in Houston

In northern Houston, media representatives gathered at the neighborhood where Jabbar resided, characterized by mobile homes and double-wide trailers, primarily occupied by Muslims, according to a neighbor, who preferred anonymity. This neighbor recalled observing Jabbar on New Year’s Eve morning loading items into a white pickup truck.

They commented that nothing appeared suspicious about what Jabbar was transporting, which seemed to consist of “hand-held items.” The neighbor described Jabbar as a quiet, composed, and “non-violent” individual who had moved there over a year ago, expressing intentions to relocate to Louisiana.

“He was a quiet guy. He didn’t bother anyone. As a family man myself, I would have felt concerned by any such behavior,” the neighbor shared.

“It’s unfortunate to have someone like that around here, but no,” the neighbor remarked.

Houston boasts the largest Muslim community in Texas and the southern United States. Ramadan Khairallah, the manager of Ramadan Halal Meat Market located a few miles from Jabbar’s residence, shared with YSL News Network reporters that he isn’t concerned about potential backlash against the community following the New Orleans incident, despite previous anti-Muslim events in the region.

“The people in our community are nothing to worry about,” Khairallah stated. “We only experience positive vibes here.”

− John Oliva and Karoline Leonard

The Islamic State has changed

The so-called Islamic State group, which is believed to have influenced Jabbar, was at its strongest around a decade ago. At its zenith, the Islamic State had control over extensive territories in Iraq and Syria, using these areas to launch attacks both regionally and internationally, including notable assaults in France.

The group’s last territorial stronghold in Syria was dismantled in 2019 by a U.S.-led coalition involving multiple countries. Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, the group’s former leader, was killed in a U.S. operation on his compound in northern Syria later that same year. The current leader, Abu Hafs al Qurayshi, assumed control in August 2023, but little is known about him or his plans.

Since Baghdadi’s demise, the Islamic State’s once vigorous media campaign, which played a significant role in recruiting individuals from the West, has significantly diminished.

“While ISIS continues to exist as a centralized global organization, it will increasingly depend on regional branches and will try to orchestrate and inspire attacks against the West and Western interests,” the U.S. intelligence community remarked in its latest Annual Threat Assessment report, published in 2024.

− Kim Hjelmgaard

Witnesses recalled a horrific scene

“There were people everywhere,” Kimberly Strickland from Mobile, Alabama described. “I just heard this screeching, and the roar of the engine, followed by a massive impact, then screams and debris – just metal – the awful crunching of metal and bodies.”

Names of the deceased

Recently, friends and family members have begun to identify victims of the truck attack. Although law enforcement in New Orleans hasn’t released the names of the deceased, loved ones have reported that among the victims are Martin “Tiger” Bech, 28, a former football player at Princeton; Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, an 18-year-old fresh high school graduate; Reggie Hunter, 37, a father of two; and Nicole Perez, 27, a mother.

A student from the University of Georgia was critically hurt during the attack, as confirmed by university President Jere Morehead. Additionally, two 19-year-old women from Fort Myers, Florida, Elle Eisele, a University of Georgia student, and Steele Idelson, attending San Diego State University, were also critically injured, according to statements from The Canterbury School.

Two Israeli citizens were injured, and a consulate official is heading to New Orleans, as stated by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X. The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reported on X that two Mexicans sustained injuries and are currently in stable condition. Further information can be found here.

− N’dea Yancey-Bragg

Context of the New Orleans attack

Each year, tens of thousands flock to New Orleans to celebrate the New Year and attend the famous Sugar Bowl college football game. The attack occurred around 3:15 a.m. in the bustling French Quarter, a lively area renowned for its music and nightlife that attracts substantial crowds.

During the incident, around 400 officers were stationed in the French Quarter, including several who had set up a temporary barrier to keep vehicles out of the pedestrian zones, according to police.

Profile of Shamsud-Din Jabbar

Jabbar, 42, is a U.S. citizen and Texas Army veteran, as stated by the FBI. The agency reported that an ISIS flag was discovered in Jabbar’s rented vehicle. Raia mentioned that they recovered three phones and two laptops that belonged to him.

According to an Army spokesperson, Jabbar served from March 2007 until January 2015 and continued in the Army Reserve until July 2020. He was deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010 and achieved the rank of staff sergeant when he concluded his service.

Court documents from Texas reveal that Jabbar, who has had two marriages and subsequent divorces, faced financial difficulties during his legal struggles with his former spouses. In correspondence with his attorney while going through his second divorce two years ago, documentation was included that illustrated Jabbar’s financial woes.

“Time is critical. I am unable to keep up with my mortgage payments, which are overdue by more than $27,000 and at risk of foreclosure if the divorce proceedings drag out,” Jabbar wrote in a letter to his attorney in January 2022.

Attack occurred during barrier replacement

City officials reported that the security barriers on Bourbon Street were malfunctioning and were being replaced at the time of the incident. The older barriers, called bollards, were undergoing replacement in preparation for Super Bowl LIX, which is set to take place on February 9, just a mile from the attack site, stated New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell in a press briefing on Wednesday.

As an interim measure, police vehicles and officers tried to create a makeshift barrier, according to Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick.

“We definitely had a safety plan in place, but the terrorist was able to bypass it,” Kirkpatrick mentioned. For more information, click here.

Vehicles used in New Orleans and Vegas incidents rented from the same service

Turo confirmed on Wednesday that the vehicles involved in the Las Vegas explosion and the New Orleans truck attack were rented through their service.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with the victims and their families,” Turo stated. “We are heartbroken by these tragic events and are committed to assisting authorities in any way possible.”

Turo’s trust and safety team is collaborating with law enforcement to provide “any useful information to aid their investigations.” Additionally, Turo has stated that they do not believe either renter had a criminal history that would have suggested a potential security risk, and they were unaware of any indications linking the two events.