FBI Reveals Details of New Orleans Terrorist’s Planning and Preparation
The FBI has disclosed disturbing details about the planning and preparation undertaken by Shamsud Din Jabbar before his heinous terrorist attack on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street on New Year’s Day. FBI Special Agent in Charge Lionel Merkel outlined Jabbar’s meticulous steps in a recent news conference, shedding light on his reconnaissance missions, surveillance activities, and utilization of advanced technology leading up to the tragic incident.
According to Merkel, Jabbar conducted two scouting trips to New Orleans prior to the attack, staying at rental properties, utilizing high-tech recording glasses for surveillance, and acquainting himself with the layout of the French Quarter. The investigation also revealed that Jabbar made videos pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group and explaining his motives, with an ISIS flag found in the pickup truck he drove through police barriers, resulting in multiple casualties.
Jabbar’s extensive travels, including visits to Japan and Egypt in 2023, are under scrutiny to determine any links to his radicalization or operational planning. The FBI is urging individuals who may have encountered Jabbar during his trips to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation.
On the night of December 31, Jabbar rented a white pickup truck and drove from Texas to Louisiana, where he strategically placed improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on Bourbon Street. Fortunately, none of the devices detonated, but the materials recovered indicated a lack of understanding in their construction and activation mechanisms.
Materials found at Jabbar’s rental home tested positive for RDX, a substance similar to R-Salt, which typically requires specific detonators for proper activation. The ATF is analyzing the evidence to unravel the full extent of Jabbar’s intentions and connections to terrorist activities.
The FBI’s revelations have shed light on the calculated planning behind the New Orleans terrorist attack, emphasizing the need for vigilance and cooperation in combating such threats to public safety.
Article syndicated with permission from The Center Square.
