A 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, drove a truck into a crowd of New Year’s revelers in New Orleans, killing at least 14 people in what the FBI has labeled an act of terrorism. Jabbar, a former staff sergeant who served in Afghanistan, was fatally shot at the scene after firing at police.
The FBI revealed Jabbar had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) and acted independently. Prior to the attack, he drove from Houston to New Orleans and uploaded a series of Facebook videos expressing support for IS and detailing his motivations. In the videos, he shared his intent to carry out the attack and provided a final testament.
“This was a premeditated and evil act of terrorism,” said FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia.
The attack occurred just hours into the new year on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter. Alongside Jabbar, 15 others were killed, including two police officers who were injured during the incident. Among the victims were a young mother, a college athlete, and an aspiring nurse.
Eyewitnesses described the chaotic scene. “You just heard the squeal of the engine, a deafening impact, and then screams. It was horrifying,” said Kimberly Strickland, a witness from Alabama.
An IS flag was found attached to the vehicle involved in the attack, further confirming Jabbar’s allegiance to the group.
The FBI stated that there was no connection between this incident and another New Year’s Day event in Las Vegas, where a Tesla Cybertruck packed with explosive materials ignited outside the Trump International Hotel.
U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the attack as “despicable” and pledged continued efforts to combat domestic and international terrorism.
Jabbar, a native of Beaumont, Texas, had served in the U.S. Army until 2015 and later worked in real estate. Despite the weakening of IS as a territorial power, experts warn the group continues to inspire lone-wolf attacks through online recruitment.
In response to the attack, security measures have been heightened across major U.S. cities, including New York and Washington, D.C., as the nation braces for upcoming high-profile events.