New Orleans Attack: Driver Acted Alone in ISIS-Inspired Rampage That Killed 14, Authorities Confirm

The driver behind the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, acted alone, according to an FBI official. Jabbar, a Texas-born U.S. citizen and Army veteran, used a pickup truck to ram into crowds on Bourbon Street, resulting in 14 fatalities and dozens of injuries. Authorities discovered a potential improvised explosive device (IED) in the vehicle Jabbar was driving, and other potential IEDs were found in the French Quarter.
Before the attack, Jabbar posted several videos on an online platform expressing his support for ISIS. While the FBI has not established a definitive connection between the New Orleans attack and a separate explosion involving a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, they are continuing their investigations.
The crowds on Bourbon Street appeared sparse a day after the tragic attack that killed 14 people and injured over 30 others. However, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell remains confident that the city’s resilience will shine through.
“New Orleans has faced challenges before, from malaria to Hurricane Katrina and the poor federal response that followed,” Mayor Cantrell said. “And we came back. Even after COVID. We’re one of the most resilient, most necessary places in the world. New Orleans will come back.”
Despite the recent tragedy, the spirit of the city remains unbroken, with hopes that revelers and tourists will soon return to the iconic streets of New Orleans, bringing with them the same vibrant energy that has always defined the city.