Thu Jan 02 09:03:16 UTC 2025: ## Terrorist Attack Rocks New Orleans’ French Quarter on New Year’s Day
**New Orleans, LA** – A deadly terrorist attack in New Orleans’ French Quarter early New Year’s Day left at least 15 dead and dozens injured. A man driving a truck plowed into a crowd celebrating the new year on Bourbon Street, before engaging in a shootout with police. The suspect, identified as 42-year-old U.S.-born Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar from Texas, was killed by law enforcement.
Authorities found an ISIS flag and weapons inside the suspect’s vehicle, leading the FBI to investigate the incident as an act of terrorism. The FBI believes Jabbar may not have acted alone and is appealing to the public for information regarding any contact with him in the 72 hours prior to the attack. Reports indicate the discovery of at least two improvised explosive devices in the area, raising concerns about potential accomplices. Several individuals, including a man and a woman, were captured on video potentially planting the devices, though their connection to the attack remains unclear.
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick described the attack as intentional, stating the perpetrator deliberately bypassed barricades to maximize casualties. Mayor LaToya Cantrell assured residents that safety measures are being strengthened in response to the incident. The Sugar Bowl college playoff game, initially scheduled for nearby, has been postponed.
Counterterrorism expert Bruce Hoffman of the Council on Foreign Relations noted the significance of the ISIS flag, suggesting an attempt to frame the attack within a broader political and terrorist context. Hoffman highlighted the possibility of Jabbar acting alone, driven by personal issues, or being influenced by a terrorist group exploiting those vulnerabilities. He also pointed out similarities between this attack and previous ISIS-inspired attacks targeting large, celebratory events, suggesting this might be a means of ISIS asserting their influence despite the group’s weakening.
The incident has sparked debate about the potential remaining influence of ISIS and their ability to execute attacks on U.S. soil, particularly given an aborted ISIS plot to attack Oklahoma City on Election Day. The investigation continues to focus on uncovering potential accomplices and motives behind the attack. The FBI is urging anyone with information to come forward.
First Piper 