A US Army veteran who killed 14 people by ramming a truck into a crowd of New Year’s Day revelers in New Orleans acted alone, the FBI said on Thursday. The suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, had pledged allegiance to Islamic State and made recordings condemning music, drugs, and alcohol.
Jabbar, 42, was killed in a shootout with police after the rampage, which also injured dozens of people and has been labeled as an act of terrorism by the FBI. The agency said investigators are looking into Jabbar’s “path to radicalization,” still uncertain how he transformed from a military veteran to someone inspired by Islamic State.
Jabbar’s half-brother described him as smart, funny, charismatic, and compassionate before the attack, saying it was devastating to discover his degree of maliciousness. The family is trying to understand what changed Jabbar’s behavior.
The New Orleans attack has led to heightened security for upcoming public events in the US. Law enforcement officials are promising increased security measures for events such as the Sugar Bowl college football game and Mardi Gras celebrations.
Jabbar had faced financial struggles and a recent divorce, according to public records and interviews. He also made a series of religious audio recordings that contained radical views on music and other mainstream Islamic issues.
The FBI is investigating Jabbar’s activities leading up to the attack, including his posting of videos on Facebook that expressed support for Islamic State. The suspect drove from Houston to New Orleans on December 31 and posted five videos on Facebook in which he said he supported the group.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/police-probe-motive-new-orleans-truck-rampage-2025-01-02