New Orleans, US:
On New Year’s Day, tragedy struck New Orleans in a shocking act of violence that has left the city and the nation reeling. At around 3:15 a.m., a white Ford F-150 electric pickup truck, driven by 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, plowed into a crowd of pedestrians on Bourbon Street in the city’s French Quarter, an area teeming with revelers celebrating the arrival of the New Year. The vehicle crashed through makeshift barriers and into the throngs of people, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 individuals and injuring 35 others. The horrific scene unfolded quickly as Jabbar’s truck was seen racing through the busy streets, with frantic partygoers attempting to flee the path of the speeding vehicle in a desperate effort to save themselves.
As the aftermath of the attack began to unfold, new details emerged, including surveillance footage and reports from law enforcement officials. The video footage circulating on social media showed Jabbar’s truck prominently displaying an ISIS flag, with the vehicle navigating traffic on Canal Street before aggressively turning onto Bourbon Street. The FBI later confirmed that an ISIS flag had indeed been found in his vehicle, which led authorities to label Jabbar as a “terrorist.”
In addition to the chilling visual evidence of the attack, investigators discovered that Jabbar had been influenced by ISIS ideologies. President Joe Biden condemned the act as “despicable” and revealed that Jabbar had posted videos online prior to the attack, which indicated his alignment with the terrorist group. The revelation of these videos raised questions about whether Jabbar’s actions were part of a larger plot, as authorities speculated that he may have had assistance in carrying out the assault. Further investigation revealed that three improvised pipe bombs had been found in the vicinity of the attack, one of which was located inside Jabbar’s truck. The presence of these bombs only deepened suspicions about the premeditated nature of the crime.
Shamsud Din Jabbar was able to plow onto Bourbon Street from Canal Street in New Orleans, in his pickup truck with an ISIS flag, because the steel barriers weren’t raised.
Government officials need to be fired and indicted for this gross incompetence.pic.twitter.com/aMHmA05aLT
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) January 1, 2025
The scene of the attack was one of chaos and horror. New Year’s Eve celebrations in the French Quarter typically draw large crowds, with locals and tourists alike flocking to the area to enjoy the festivities. On this occasion, however, the joyful atmosphere turned to panic as Jabbar’s truck careened through the crowded streets, causing mass confusion and fear. Eyewitnesses reported seeing people desperately running for cover, trying to avoid being hit by the speeding vehicle. After crashing into the crowd, Jabbar exited the truck, only to be confronted by police officers. A shootout ensued, and Jabbar was fatally shot by law enforcement, though two officers were injured in the exchange of gunfire.
The loss of life and the severity of the injuries sustained by those caught in the attack have left the community devastated. Many of the victims were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, enjoying the holiday celebrations before being caught in the middle of a deadly assault. The incident has raised questions about the vulnerability of public spaces to such attacks, as well as the broader implications of extremist ideologies infiltrating the minds of individuals who then act on their beliefs in such violent and indiscriminate ways.
New horrific video of the terrorist attack in New Orleans, look at how fast that SOB was going when he targeted people on the street pic.twitter.com/bYbGGSrxyr
— Vince Langman (@LangmanVince) January 1, 2025
As authorities worked to piece together the details of Jabbar’s background and motivations, they discovered that he had a history with the U.S. military. Jabbar served in the Army from 2007 to 2015, where he worked as both a human resources specialist and an IT specialist. During his time in the military, he was deployed to Afghanistan between February 2009 and January 2010, and by the time of his discharge, he had attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. After leaving active duty, Jabbar continued to serve in the Army Reserve until 2020. His time in the military seemed to have no direct indication of any extremist behavior, and he was honorably discharged. However, the attack on New Year’s Day has raised troubling questions about whether Jabbar was radicalized after leaving the military.
Also Read:https://sknewzy.com/new-orleans-new-years-tragedy-10-dead-injured-34/
The FBI has been investigating whether there were any links between Jabbar’s attack and another violent incident that occurred around the same time. Authorities have suggested a possible connection to an explosion that took place outside a hotel in Las Vegas, owned in part by President-elect Donald Trump. The explosion, which killed one person, was initially believed to be unrelated to the New Orleans attack. However, the FBI has not ruled out the possibility that the two events may be connected in some way. Las Vegas police have described the explosion as an isolated incident, but the investigation is ongoing, and it remains to be seen whether any links will be uncovered.
In response to the tragedy in New Orleans, President Biden emphasized that the attack was an act of terrorism, and he condemned it in the strongest possible terms. While the FBI continues to investigate the full scope of the events leading up to and following the attack, there are already signs that Jabbar may have been part of a larger network of extremist individuals. His apparent alignment with ISIS and the evidence of his preparation for the attack suggest a calculated and deliberate act of violence, one that has left the nation grappling with the implications of radicalization and the threat posed by individuals who are motivated by extremist ideologies.
As New Orleans recovers from this devastating event, the city and the nation must confront the broader issue of how to prevent such acts of violence in the future. The tragic loss of life on Bourbon Street is a stark reminder of the dangers that exist in public spaces, where people should be able to gather and celebrate without fear. The investigation into Jabbar’s motives and connections continues, and it is clear that the full scope of the attack is still being unraveled. However, for the families and loved ones of the victims, the pain and loss caused by this senseless act of terror will linger long after the investigation concludes.