NEW ORLEANS: A US Army veteran inspired by his allegiance to Islamic State may have acted alone when he drove a truck into a crowd of New Year’s revelers in New Orleans, killing and injuring dozens of people. , the FBI said Thursday.
FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raya said that despite initial concerns that Shamsuddin Jabbar’s accomplices were still at large, the initial investigation showed that he was likely alone.
“We do not anticipate at this time that anyone else was involved,” Raya said.
However, new evidence emerged detailing the extent of the American citizen’s allegiance to Islamic State and the plan to wreak havoc in the attack, which killed 14 people and wounded more than 30 in the French Quarter district. Hoye, ended only after being shot by the police. .
“He was 100 percent inspired by ISIS,” Raya said, using an alternative name for the international jihadi group.
Raya said that just before the attack, in which Jabbar, 42, drove a rented Ford F-150 pickup into a crowd, he had “announced his support for ISIS on an online platform. posted several videos on
He also carried a black ISIS flag on the back of the car.
In a video, Jabbar “explains that he originally planned to harm his family and friends, but was concerned that the headlines would not focus on the ‘war between believers and unbelievers.’ ”
Jabbar planted two homemade bombs in drinks coolers in the streets of the French Quarter, Raya said. He said that the bombs were viable but were saved in time.
Raya clarified that the total death toll from Wednesday’s massacre of 15 included 14 victims and Jabbar himself, who died after two police officers were injured in the exchange of fire.
In New Orleans’ French Quarter, cleaners cleared away debris. Bourbon Street, at the heart of the area’s popular nightlife and jazz establishments, remained closed to the public.
After a 24-hour delay due to the violence, the city was preparing to stage the big Sugar Bowl college football game at the Superdome later Thursday. The stadium will also host the NFL’s Super Bowl championship game in February.
“We are confident that we can provide a very safe and wonderful environment today, and stop the Super Bowl and all of our activities,” New Orleans Police Superintendent Ann Kirkpatrick said.
The horrific incident took place three weeks before Trump took office as president.
Republicans have used the disaster to advance their anti-immigrant agenda, even though the slain murderer was an American-born citizen.
Overnight, Trump again took to social media to link the attack to “open borders.”
At length, he criticized law enforcement for “attacking their political adversary, the ME, instead of focusing on protecting Americans from violent SCUM from within and without.”
Claiming that “America is falling apart,” Trump said without elaborating: “The CIA must be involved.”