NEW ORLEANS — The FBI is now releasing more details into the man accused of a terrorist attack in New Orleans around 3:15 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2025 that left 14 people dead, along with the suspect. The FBI now says they believe 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. born citizen from Texas, was acting alone.
The FBI says Jabbar visited New Orleans in October and November of 2024, stayed at a rental in the city and rode around on his bicycle videoing different parts of New Orleans. Specifically, the FBI says Jabbar was in New Orleans on Nov. 10, 2024, but they’re still piecing together details of that visit.
READ NOW: The faces of the 14 victims
On Dec. 31, 2024, he was seen at one of multiple gun stores he visited in Texas leading up to the attack. The feds say Jabbar then stopped at a store in Texas, where he purchased one of the ice chests he used to hide the IED.
FBI’s Timeline on Jabbar leading up to New Orleans attack
December 31, 2024
- 2:30 p.m. – Jabbar arrived in New Orleans
- 9 p.m. – He rented a vehicle that was later seen in Gonzales in Ascension Parish around 9 p.m.
- 10 p.m. – Home surveillance showed Jabbar unloading the rented white pick-up truck in New Orleans outside the Mandeville St. rental home in the St. Roch area
January 1, 2025
- 12:15 a.m. – Jabbar left his rental property on Mandeville St. in the St. Roch area. Officials say the Nest inside the rental changed from heat to cool at 12:17 a.m. because it was trying to keep up with the rising temperature inside due to the fire. The entire time Jabbar had been at the rental, the AC had not gone on until 12:17 a.m. Officials say he lit an open flame next to the washer and dryer. He also left a gasoline container at the rental facility and poured an accelerator.
- 12:41 a.m. – Jabbar parked the truck at Royal & St. Nichols streets in the French Quarter
- 1:53 a.m. – Jabbar placed the first IED in an ice chest at the corner of Bourbon & St. Peter streets. That cooler was found by the FBI at Bourbon and Orleans streets.
- 2:20 a.m. – Jabbar placed the second IED in a bucket type cooler on Bourbon & Toulouse wearing a long, brown coat. That same coat was recovered from the rented pick-up truck.
- 3:15 a.m. – Jabbar used the pick-up truck as a lethal weapon
- 5 a.m. – A fire was reported at the rental home on Mandeville St. New Orleans firefighters found explosive devices at that scene. Based on the ATF’s investigation, the FBI says this fire was set before Jabbar left to head to the French Quarter for the deadly attack.
As for the weapons recovered during this investigation, the FBI says they found a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol.
The feds said that Jabbar was in Egypt from June 22, 2023 to July 3, 2023 and he returned to the United States. He then traveled to Canada in a separate trip on July 10th, returning to the U.S. on July 13th.
The FBI added that Jabbar did visit Tampa, Florida recently. FBI Atlanta is assisting the NO Field Office, speaking to Jabbar’s family members. There was no trip to Georgia in recent months that the FBI knows of.
The FBI continues asking for the public’s help for information on Jabbar. They have created a page where the public can provide information on the photos captured of Jabbar in the early morning hours of New Year’s day, along with a photo of one of the ice chest IEDs placed on Bourbon Street.
“We do not assess at this point that anyone else is involved in this attack except for Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the subject you’ve already been briefed on,” Deputy Assistant Christopher Raia with the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division said.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said earlier in the week that more than 1,000 law enforcement agents and officers have been looking through data and video since Wednesday’s deadly attack.
Raia also said that investigators recovered two IEDs in coolers near where the attack took place, including one located at the intersection of Bourbon and Orleans St. Investigators also found video of Jabbar placing those devices on the street prior to the attack.
“Both devices were rendered safe on scene. There were multiple reports of other devices. Those reports turned out to be misinformation or not actual functioning devices, those are the only two devices that we’ve been able to recover that were functional,” Raia said.
The FBI is now hoping to talk to anyone who may have been on Bourbon St. or in the French Quarter on Tuesday to see if they may have noticed those coolers or seen anything else suspicious.
“Many people stopped and looked at the cooler and then continued on their way,” Raia said. “We do not believe at this point these people are involved in this incident in any way. We want to speak to them as witnesses and want to know what they saw and when.”
The Sugar Bowl was postponed to Thursday at 3 p.m., Jan. 2, 2025.
“With the confidence that I have in the law enforcement partners, all of the resources have been activated. How we have made sure that safety continues to be our top priority and how our assets have been deployed strategically again, is for the safety and the protection of our visitors and our residents in the city. And because of that, the confidence is there to reopen Bourbon Street to the public prior to game time today,” Cantrell said.
Landry said that additional safety measures have since been implemented in the French Quarter but didn’t want to explain in detail.
“We have reinforced the area. We have deployed some additional types of assets. I personally don’t like to give specifics because I don’t like to tell the enemy what we’ve got but I can tell you we’re in better shape than we were before,” Landry said.
Landry also spoke to the heart of the incident, saying that evil of this caliber needed to be stomped out.
“I think it’s important for people to understand that to protect our citizens in America from evil, you have to crush it. You can’t go out there and placate it (evil). You can’t go out there and say, ‘Oh, I’m going to put this in place and that in place and hope that evil doesn’t show up on your doorstep.’ Because it will. You have to crush it. And that’s what we’re going to do here,” Landry said.
Raia said that the suspect was “100 percent” inspired by ISIS and that investigators would be looking into how he became radicalized in the coming days.
“So what I can tell you right now is that he was 100% inspired by ISIS. We’re digging through more of the social media, more interviews, working with some of our other partners to ascertain just how to ascertain a little bit more about that connection,” Raia said.
The FBI is asking for anyone with information to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or contact us at tips.fbi.gov if they interacted with the individual responsible.
Original article
“City of New Orleans was impacted by a terrorist attack,” said Mayor Latoya Cantrell in a news conference.
“There were improvised explosive devices that were found and trying to confirm if it’s a viable device,” said FBI Special Agent Alethea Duncan. The FBI now says they are investigating this as a ‘terrorist attack.’
Sources tell UWK they’re searching other parts of New Orleans for any additional IEDs.
New Orleans Police Department’s Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said it was around 3:15 a.m. when a man driving a pickup truck went around the barricades on Bourbon Street at a very fast pace.
“It was very intentional behavior. This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could. It was not a DUI situation. This is a more complex and more serious situation based on the information we have right now,” said Kirkpatrick. Officials now say the suspect’s truck crossed into the U.S. through the Eagle Pass border crossing in Texas two days ago.
As of early New Year’s Day, officials report that 15 people have died and nearly 35 others were injured, with many of the injured sent to numerous hospitals in and around New Orleans. “We don’t know how many of these people were local versus tourists, but at this time, it appears many will be locals,” the superintendent added.” The superintendent added that those numbers could change.
It’s also why officials are asking everyone to please avoid Bourbon Street all of New Year’s Day as the FBI, State Police and NOPD investigate and continue searching for IEDs. Bourbon Street is closed from Canal Street. to St. Ann Street.
“He fired on NOPD officers from his truck after crashing. Two officers have been shot. They are stable. We have called in every officer we have. Last night, we had over 300 officers out there and because of the intentional mindset of this perpetrator, who went around our barricades in order to conduct this, he was hell bent on creating the carnage and the damage he did,” said Kirkpatrick.
New Orleans Mayor Cantrell said she’s been in contact with the White House and Governor Jeff Landry and asked for prayers for the 15 people who lost their lives while out enjoying the start of 2025.
FBI issues statement into New Orleans attack
This morning, an individual drove a car into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing a number of people and injuring dozens of others. The subject then engaged with local law enforcement and is now deceased. The FBI is the lead investigative agency, and we are working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism.
White House issues statement
“President Biden has been briefed on the horrific news that a driver killed and injured dozens of individuals in New Orleans overnight and the White House has been in touch with New Orleans Mayor Cantrell to offer support. The FBI is already on the ground supporting local law enforcement in the investigation and the President will continue to be briefed throughout the day.”
East Baton Rouge Mayor-President issues statement
“Our hearts are heavy as we learn of the violent attack that occurred last night in New Orleans. This senseless act of violence is a stark reminder of the challenges we face in ensuring safety and security for all our communities.
On behalf of the people of Baton Rouge, I extend our deepest condolences to the victims, their families, and the entire New Orleans community. We stand in solidarity with Mayor Cantrell, local law enforcement, and first responders who are working tirelessly to address this tragedy and bring those responsible to justice.
Violence has no place in our cities or our society. As leaders, we are committed to fostering safe, thriving communities where everyone can live free from fear. Let this be a moment for us all to come together, not just to grieve but to take action in addressing the root causes of violence.
Baton Rouge stands ready to assist in any way we can during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with New Orleans today.”
This is a developing story. As soon as more details are provided, the story will be updated. Check back for new information.
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