DIY VIRAL
On Thursday, January 2, the FBI provided an update on the rampage of a US Army veteran in New Orleans. When 14 people died and at least 35 were injured Shamsud-Din Jabbar On New Year's Day, drove his Ford pickup truck into a crowd of people.
According to Associated Pressthe law enforcement agency has confirmed that Shamsud-Din acted alone in the attack. However, he was inspired by the Islamic State group.
The AP reports that it was the deadliest IS-inspired attack on US territory in years. Among the dead was an 18-year-old aspiring nurse, single mother, father of two and former Princeton University football star.
Details of the New Orleans attack
The FBI also released details about the now-deceased driver, who was a US citizen from Texas. Hours before the attack Shamsud-Din Jabbar posted five videos on his Facebook account in which he declared his support for the militant group ISIS.
In his videos, Jabbar also warned about violence he planned to commit in New Orleans' famous French Quarter area. One clip shows him admitting that he planned to harm his family and friends first. However, he changed his mind because he was concerned that the headlines would not focus on the “war between believers and non-believers”.
“It was an act of terrorism. It was a deliberate and evil act,” Christopher Raia said.
Christopher is the Deputy Director of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division. He assured the public that Jabbar was “100% inspired” by the Islamic State. As mentioned, Jabbar killed 14 people who were celebrating when he drove around a barricade and crashed into the crowd. He later died in a firefight with the police.
According to the FBI, Shamsud-Din Jabbar picked up a rental truck in Houston on Dec. 30 and then drove it to New Orleans the next day. Surveillance video later shows Jabbar planting an improvised explosive device in a cooler along the city's Bourbon Street. However, the agency is confident that no one else seen in the footage helped Jabbar carry out the attack. However, investigators still plan to question them as witnesses. Jabar's device in a cooler and another device was secured at the scene. Other devices he put in didn't work.
The FBI also recovered a black Islamic State flag from Jabbar's rental pickup truck. In addition, he left a last will and testament, the agency said.
Shamsud-Din Jabbar's brother speaks out
For context, Jabbar joined the Army in 2007 on active duty in Human Resources and Information Technology and was deployed to Afghanistan from 2009-2010. He transferred to the Army Reserve in 2015 and retired in 2020 with the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Abdur-Rahim JabbarJabbar's younger brother told The Associated Press on Thursday that it “doesn't seem real” that his brother could have done it.
“I never thought it would be him,” he said. “It's completely different from him.”
He said that his brother had been isolated in recent years, but had been in contact with him, and he had not seen any signs of radicalization. “It's completely at odds with who he was and how his family and friends know him,” the brother said.
In the meantime, scroll on to see how President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump reacted to the incident.
The FBI has ruled out any connection between the New Orleans and Las Vegas attacks
Authorities in New Orleans finished processing the crime scene early Thursday morning, including removing the last of the bodies. Bourbon Street, famous around the world for its music, outdoor drinking and festive atmosphere, was open for business until the early afternoon.
More than 1,500 miles away, another incident took place in Las Vegas, killing one and injuring others. Local police are still investigating whether the incident was targeted or a terrorist attack. However, it has been confirmed that the New Year's Day explosion was NOT a mechanical problem with the Cybertruck. The incident happened near a Trump International hotel.
Raia of the FBI has emphasized that there is no connection between what happened in New Orleans and Las Vegas.
RELATED: Officials explain Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside Trump Hotel on New Year's Day
Associated Press reporters who contributed to this report include Eric Tucker, Jim Mustian, Kevin McGill, Ak Brooks, Stephen Smith, Chevel Johnson, Brett Martel, Jeff Martin, Alanna Durkin Richer, Tara Cope, Zeke Miller, Darlene Superville in Newcastle, Col. Long and Michael R. Sisak.
What do you think, rooms?
DIY VIRAL
