Federal Investigators Probe US Army Veteran’s Role in New Orleans IED Incident

Shamsud-Din Jabbar: Army Veteran Linked to New Orleans Truck Attack

Federal investigators are examining the possibility that Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran who drove a truck into a crowd of New Year’s revelers in New Orleans’ French Quarter, may have prepared improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at a nearby rental property.

Jabbar’s attack resulted in the deaths of 15 people and injuries to at least 35 others.

Following the incident, authorities discovered an ISIS flag, firearms, and potential IEDs in Jabbar’s rented truck and other locations within the French Quarter.

The FBI is leading the investigation, treating the attack as an act of terrorism, and is exploring whether Jabbar acted alone or had accomplices.

Jabbar, a resident of Houston, Texas, had served in the U.S. Army from the mid-2000s until 2020, including a deployment to Afghanistan.

Prior to the attack, he had posted videos online expressing his desire to kill, indicating potential inspiration from the Islamic State group.