ISIS flag and explosive devices discovered; FBI investigates possible accomplices in New Year’s Eve attack.
New Orleans [US], January 2: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has revealed that Shamsud Din Jabbar, the suspect behind the New Orleans car-ramming attack on Bourbon Street during New Year celebrations, may not have acted alone. The horrific incident resulted in 10 fatalities and left 35 others injured.
The FBI classified the attack as an “act of terrorism” after investigators discovered an ISIS flag and suspected explosive devices in Jabbar’s vehicle.
FBI Investigation Intensifies
Speaking at a press conference, Alethea Duncan, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s New Orleans Field Office, said investigators are actively pursuing all leads. “We are aggressively running down every lead, including those concerning Jabbar’s known associates. We are asking for the public’s help—anyone who interacted with Shamsud Din Jabbar in the last 72 hours should contact us immediately.”
She added, “The FBI is also analyzing potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations.”
The suspect, Shamsud Din Jabbar, has been identified as a US citizen from Texas and a former US military personnel, according to reports from CNN.
National Leaders Respond
In a statement released on X, the FBI confirmed their lead role in the investigation: “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.”
President Joe Biden condemned the attack, stating, “There is no justification for violence of any kind, and we will not tolerate any attack on any of our nation’s communities.”
Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump reignited the political debate surrounding immigration and crime policies, criticizing Democrats for downplaying his previous warnings about criminal migration.
On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “When I said that the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country, that statement was constantly refuted by Democrats and the Fake News Media, but it turned out to be true. Our hearts are with all of the innocent victims and their loved ones, including the brave officers of the New Orleans Police Department.”
Ongoing Investigation
The FBI has urged citizens to provide any relevant information, photos, or videos connected to Jabbar or the incident. Authorities are also investigating potential co-conspirators and analyzing Jabbar’s digital and physical footprints.
The investigation remains ongoing, with heightened security measures in place across major public venues in New Orleans.
