On New Year’s Day, Shamsud Din Bahar Jabbar drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, New Orleans, resulting in 14 fatalities and numerous injuries. The FBI identified Jabbar, a 42-year-old Army veteran from Texas, as the lone attacker who acted under the influence of ISIS. Following the incident, Iraqi authorities arrested an unnamed suspect in connection to Jabbar’s actions, indicating he had ties to ISIS’s external operations. The suspect will face trial under Iraq’s anti-terrorism laws, reflecting international cooperation to counter terrorism.
The FBI confirmed Jabbar acted alone in the premeditated attack, which occurred just after 3 a.m., emphasizing that further investigations revealed Jabbar had been inspiring others by posting videos supporting ISIS shortly before the incident. He reportedly became increasingly isolated and devout in the year leading up to the attack. Authorities noted that Jabbar had been researching similar attacks, including a notable incident in Germany.
Despite significant territorial losses since 2017, ISIS remains operational with sleeper cells in Iraq, Syria, and beyond, maintaining a presence in various regions. U.N. estimates suggest that around 10,000 fighters remain aligned with the group, with many foreign fighters having moved to other conflict zones.
Amidst ongoing investigations, local officials expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts to bring justice to the victims of this tragedy. The FBI continues to pursue leads domestically and internationally, highlighting the persistent threats posed by extremist ideologies and groups like ISIS, which continue to precipitate acts of violence.
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