A series of videos reveal the ISIS ties of the suspect in the New Year's Day New Orleans attack that killed 15 people and injured 30 others.
Why It Matters
The FBI is investigating the fatal attack as an act of terrorism. While a motive has not yet been revealed, videos have emerged which provide some insight into suspect Shamsud-Din Jabbar' s possible motivations and thinking.
Jabbar, 42, is believed to have driven a pickup truck into a crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street and a key line of inquiry is whether the attack was orchestrated or inspired by a foreign terrorist group.
Newsweek has not reviewed the videos and they have not been publicly released.
What To Know
In videos seen by authorities, Jabbar allegedly discussed how he had planned to gather his family for a "celebration" with the intention of killing them after his divorce, before changing his plans to join ISIS, CNN reported, citing two officials who had been briefed on the recordings.
Jabbar also referenced several dreams that he had about why he should be joining ISIS, according to CNN.
Authorities believe Jabbar made the recordings at night while he was driving from his home in Texas to Louisiana. However, the exact timing is unclear
Jabbar was killed while exchanging fire with police at the scene after the attack. Later, the FBI said an ISIS flag was found in the truck he drove into the crowd, as well as possible improvised explosive devices.
Other potential IEDs were also located in the French Quarter. It is currently unclear if the IEDs were linked to the attack.
Court filings, which Newsweek has not reviewed, show Jabbar has divorced from two of his ex-wives. In 2012, his first wife filed a lawsuit against him for child support shortly after he initiated divorce proceedings. The court mandated Jabbar to make payments that increased over time in line with his growing income. The case was ultimately dismissed in 2022.
Meanwhile, Jabbar's second wife took out a restraining order against him in 2020 during divorce proceedings. The order mandated that Jabbar refrain from threats, physical harm or other stipulated behavior against his ex-wife and either of their children, and required her to avoid the same activity. In a court filing, Jabbar's ex-wife stated the marriage had become "insupportable because of discord or a conflict of personalities."
Jabbar was a U.S. citizen from Texas who served in the Army for more than a decade as a human resource specialist and information technology specialist on active duty between March 2007 and January 2015.
He was deployed to Afghanistan once from February 2009 to January 2010, an Army spokesperson told CNN. After leaving active duty in January 2015, Jabbar served in the Army Reserve until July 2020, when he left service as a staff sergeant.
The 42-year-old pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft of between $50 and $500 in December 2002, Harris County court records show. He served nine months of "community supervision." Three years later, in 2005, Beaumont police arrested him for driving with an invalid license, also a misdemeanor.
Authorities are examining these past incidents as part of their broader investigation into the suspect's background and potential motivations.
Jabbar's brother, Abdur Jabbar, 24, told the New York Times that they had been brought up Christian, but his brother had converted to Islam long ago.
"As far as I know he was a Muslim for most of his life," he said. "What he did does not represent Islam. This is more some type of radicalization, not religion."
He also said his brother had joined the military not knowing what he wanted to pursue in life. "It was a new outlet to get some sort of discipline," he said.
Jabbar was allegedly staying at an Airbnb, which burned down earlier Wednesday, about a mile and a half away from the attacks.
What People Are Saying
President Joe Biden said at a press conference: "The FBI also reported to me that mere hours before the attack, he posted videos on social media indicating that he was inspired by ISIS, especially a desire to kill. The ISIS flag was found in his vehicle, which he rented to conduct this attack."
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick: "This is not just an act of terrorism. This is evil."
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, on X, formerly Twitter: "A horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street earlier this morning. Please join Sharon and I in praying for all the victims and first responders on scene. I urge all near the scene to avoid the area."
Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: "When I said that the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country, that statement was constantly refuted by Democrats and the Fake News Media, but it turned out to be true.
"The crime rate in our country is at a level that nobody has ever seen before. Our hearts are with all of the innocent victims and their loved ones, including the brave officers of the New Orleans Police Department. The Trump Administration will fully support the City of New Orleans as they investigate and recover from this act of pure evil!"
What Happens Next
Law enforcement continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, with additional security measures likely to follow in the wake of the attack.
Authorities have also said that they do not believe Jabbar acted entirely on his own. No further information about potential accomplices has been disclosed but officials are continuing to investigate.
Anyone with information that can assist is asked to contact the FBI's New Orleans Bureau by calling (504) 816-3000 or by emailing tips@fbi.gov.
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