The FBI is actively investigating whether the terrorist responsible for the deadly attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans early Wednesday morning has ties to the ISIS terrorist group.
The incident, which claimed the lives of at least 10 New Year’s revelers and left dozens more injured, ended when the suspect was fatally shot in a firefight with police.
Authorities have identified the attacker as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, a Texas native and former U.S. Army soldier. Jabbar, who was dressed in camouflage, full-body armor, and sporting a beard, opened fire on crowds before engaging in a shootout with police, wounding two officers in the process.
In the hours following the attack, four suspicious packages were reportedly discovered and detonated along Bourbon Street as part of an ongoing investigation into improvised explosive devices (IEDs), according to WWL. Meanwhile, WDSU reported that the truck used in the attack was rigged with explosives.
Initial reports suggested that the vehicle had crossed into the U.S. from Mexico at Eagle Pass, Texas, two days before the attack. However, Fox News has since retracted that claim.
ABC News reports that the pickup truck was rented through the app Turo, further complicating the investigation into how Jabbar orchestrated the attack.
Authorities reportedly recovered an ISIS flag from the suspect, intensifying concerns about potential links to international terrorist networks. Investigators are now examining Jabbar’s background, including his military service and any communication he may have had with extremist organizations.
President Joe Biden said the FBI is investigating the “horrific incident” as “an act of terrorism” and that he has directed his team to ensure every resource is available as authorities work to “get to the bottom of what happened as quickly as possible.”
