On New years, at 3:15 a.m., a man named Shamsud-Din Jabbar who was bearing an Islamic flag in his car drove straight into Bourbon street, one of the main streets in New Orleans, which was packed with tons of people celebrating the New Year. This attack resulted in 14 people dead and tons more injured. This attack is still under investigation, which means that more and more information is being revealed every day, yet it is known that this is an act of terrorism motivated by Jabbar’s political beliefs. Here’s what we know so far.
Important Details
One key detail that has been uncovered about the suspect is that he visited New Orleans twice, most likely planning the attack, before actually executing his plan. Both times he was seen wearing glasses used to record his surroundings. Another important piece of information about the suspect is that fifteen minutes before midnight on New Years Eve, he set the Airbnb that he had been renting on fire. He did this by using an open fire in the area of the home next to the washer and dryer, and setting gallons of gasoline in the hallway. It is believed that he had intended to burn the whole house down, yet his mission was unsuccessful because the fire ran out of fuel and oxygen. In the investigation after the attack, agents found both a type of firearm silencer and explosive material in the house.
Attack Timeline
After leaving the rental home, Jabbar placed two explosive devices in coolers on Bourbon street, of which neither detonated. The way that these explosives were poorly constructed emphasizes his lack of knowledge in how these explosives are actually set off. The huge white pickup truck that he rented and conducted the attack weighed 6,000 pounds. After the attack, investigators found guns in his truck that he had previously purchased in a gun store in Texas.
The investigation is still continuing.
Works Cited
Tebor, Celina. “How the New Orleans Suspect Shamsud-din Jabbar Planned the Truck Attack | CNN.” CNN, 7 Jan. 2025, www.cnn.com/2025/01/07/us/new-orleans-truck-attack-suspect-planning/index.html. Accessed 7 Jan. 2025.
