Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the 42-year-old perpetrator of the New Orleans attack, revealed his motivations and extremist ideology in a series of videos posted on Facebook before the incident. According to FBI deputy assistant director Christopher Raia, Jabbar claimed he initially planned to harm his family and friends but shifted his focus to the “war between the believers and the disbelievers” to ensure media coverage.
Jabbar, a former US Army member and Afghanistan veteran, also declared his allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist group, also known as ISIS, in the videos. He shared his last will and testament and posted the videos between 1:29 am and 3:02 am on Wednesday, just hours before the attack.
The attack occurred on January 1, 2025, around 3:15 am local time, when Jabbar drove a rented pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, killing 15 people and injuring many others. He exchanged gunfire with police before being shot and killed. Authorities found a black Islamic State flag in his vehicle, and eyewitnesses reported seeing Jabbar exit the truck wearing full body armor and carrying an assault rifle.
Jabbar’s brother, Abdur-Rahim Jabbar, expressed shock and disbelief at his brother’s actions, stating that it “doesn’t feel real” and that he never would have thought his brother capable of such an act. He mentioned that his brother had been isolated in recent years but had been in contact recently without showing any signs of radicalization.
The FBI is investigating the attack as an act of terrorism, and authorities have confirmed that Jabbar planted two improvised explosive devices before the attack. The incident has raised concerns about the ongoing threat of extremist ideology and the ability of groups like ISIS to recruit sympathizers online.
In the aftermath of the attack, a reunification center was established at University Medical Center New Orleans, and the city’s tourism industry has been impacted. The 2025 Sugar Bowl, a college football playoff game, was postponed due to the incident.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to piece together Jabbar’s motivations and actions leading up to the attack. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat of terrorism and the need for continued vigilance and cooperation to prevent such tragedies.
