New Orleans Attacker Posts 5 Videos Before Attack: Officials Confirm
At least 15 people killed and dozens others were injured in a vehicle-ramming attack in New Orleans early Wednesday. Seeking to assuage concerns about any broader plots, FBI officials revealed that the driver of the pickup truck, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran and Texas native, acted alone in the deadly assault on New Year’s revelers.
Driver’s Motives Revealed
The FBI disclosed that Jabbar posted five videos on his Facebook account expressing support for the Islamic State group and foreshadowing the violence he was about to unleash in the French Quarter district of New Orleans. Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI’s counterterrorism division, Christopher Raia, emphasized that the attack was an act of terrorism, describing it as premeditated and evil.
Investigation Details
During the investigation, officials reviewed surveillance footage from the scene, showing individuals near an improvised explosive device that Jabbar placed in a cooler on Bourbon Street. However, Raia clarified that there was no indication of their involvement in the attack. The FBI recovered an Islamic State flag from Jabbar’s rented truck and examined his social media posts, including a video where he expressed initial intentions to harm his family and friends.
Personal Insight from Jabbar’s Brother
Abdur-Rahim Jabbar, the younger brother of the attacker, shared his disbelief at the unfolding events. He mentioned that his brother had been isolated in recent years but did not display any signs of radicalization during their interactions. Expressing shock, he said, “It’s completely unlike him. It’s completely contradictory to who he was and how his family and his friends know him.”
As the investigation continues, the FBI is attempting to unravel the path that led Jabbar to commit this heinous act. The tragic incident has once again highlighted the looming threat of terrorism, prompting heightened vigilance from law enforcement agencies across the nation.
