‘100% inspired by ISIS’: A timeline of driver’s movements before New Orleans attack
WASHINGTON ― On Thursday, the FBI reported that Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the individual responsible for the New Orleans attack, traveled from Houston to New Orleans on New Year’s Eve. He deliberately drove his pickup truck into pedestrians on Bourbon Street early on New Year’s Day.
Christopher Raia, a deputy assistant director at the FBI, indicated that Jabbar executed this calculated “act of terrorism” alone. The attack resulted in the deaths of fourteen people and injured approximately thirty others. Police shot Jabbar dead after he opened fire on them.
Raia stated there was “no definitive link” connecting the New Orleans incident with the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck parked outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. Both cases are still under investigation.
Jabbar, a 42-year-old military veteran and U.S. citizen residing in Houston, was described by Raia as being “100% inspired by ISIS,” referring to the extremist group known as the Islamic State.
The FBI has compiled a timeline of Jabbar’s activities leading up to the attack, having received over 400 tips related to the incident:
Truck rented in Houston
On Monday, December 30, Jabbar rented a white Ford F-150 pickup truck in Houston, which he would later use in the attack on Bourbon Street, a bustling area in New Orleans’ French Quarter.
Travel from Houston to New Orleans
According to Raia, Jabbar made the drive from Houston to New Orleans on Tuesday, December 31.
Pro-ISIS videos uploaded prior to attack
Between 1:29 a.m. CT and 3:02 a.m. CT, Jabbar shared five videos online in which he expressed his support for ISIS, as reported by Raia.
Suspect’s original intent to harm family
In one of the videos, Jabbar revealed to the FBI that he initially intended to harm his family and friends, fearing that news coverage would overlook “the war between the believers and disbelievers.”
He also claimed in the video that he had joined ISIS before last summer and shared a will and testament.
Execution of attack
On the morning of New Year’s Day, around 3:15 a.m. CT, Jabbar drove his truck into a restricted area of Bourbon Street at Canal Street, shooting at people while driving over them.
His truck displayed an ISIS flag. He was shot and killed by police at the scene.
FBI conducting searches in New Orleans
Raia mentioned that the FBI is currently investigating a residence associated with Jabbar located on Mandeville Street in New Orleans, where responders dealt with a fire early Wednesday morning.
According to Joshua Jackson, the special agent overseeing the New Orleans ATF field office, the ATF is looking into the cause of the fire.
FBI Investigating Electronics Associated with Jabbar
According to Raia, the FBI has confiscated three smartphones and two laptops tied to Jabbar. These devices are currently being examined for any clues. The laptops were found at Jabbar’s residence in Mandeville.
Discovery of Two Explosive Devices
Authorities found two explosive devices hidden in coolers near the incident site—one located at the intersection of Bourbon and Orleans streets and the other about two blocks away.
Raia disclosed that the FBI has video footage showing Jabbar placing these devices in their respective locations.
“We received various reports of additional devices,” Raia mentioned. “However, those turned out to be false alerts, as no actual working devices were discovered.”
