A terrible tragedy struck New Orleans on New Year’s Day when a man named Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove into a crowd, killing 14 people and injuring many more. This attack shocked the city and has left it in deep sadness as it begins 2025.
Jabbar, 42 years old and inspired by ISIS, planned this attack for months. He visited New Orleans twice before, using special glasses that can record videos to spy on his chosen spot, Bourbon Street. The FBI found out that he recorded videos during his trips to learn about the streets and busy areas.
Before the attack, Jabbar rented a truck and arrived in New Orleans on December 31. He even set a fire in the house he rented, possibly to distract people before the attack. The FBI discovered bomb-making materials in his home.
On the night of the attack, he put two homemade bombs in coolers near Bourbon Street. The first bomb was mistaken for trash and moved by people to a different spot. The second bomb was found before it could explode. Jabbar had set up a device in the truck that could control the bombs.
Authorities are now trying to understand why he chose New Orleans and whether he had help from others while planning. They are looking into his past travels to places like Egypt and Canada to see if they influenced him.
At his home in Texas, Jabbar had a routine setup for making explosives, along with a Quran opened to a verse that extremists often use to justify violence. He posted videos on Facebook just hours before the attack, proclaiming his support for ISIS and threatening violence.
This sad event is a reminder of how dangerous lone actors can be, as they often go unnoticed until it’s too late before they strike again.
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