By Matt Delaney The Washington Times Thursday, January 2, 2025
The Army veteran behind the deadly New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans made videos professing his allegiance to the Islamic State terror group and laying out his plans to kill family members.
Law enforcement officials said Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, 42, recorded the videos while he drove from Texas to Louisiana to carry out his rampage that left at least 15 dead and dozens injured when he drove a truck through a crowded Bourbon Street early Wednesday.
It’s unclear how long before the attack that those videos were recorded, officials told CNN.
The military veteran-turned-terrorist also allegedly talked about his divorce and a plot to kill his family members under the guise of a “celebration,” according to videos obtained by The New York Times.
Jabbar, who is from Texas and spent 10 years in the Army before being honorably discharged, is twice divorced and has two daughters ages 15 and 20.
He died in a shootout with police after he jumped out of his vehicle to trade gunfire with officers around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday.
Authorities said Jabbar was carrying a pistol and a rifle, and at least three possible improvised explosive devices were found near the crime scene — including one in Jabbar’s truck.
President Biden said in an evening address that Jabbar “posted videos on social media indicating that he was inspired by ISIS, especially the desire to kill.” Federal authorities said Jabbar had an ISIS flag on the rear of his truck used in the attack.
The president added that police are still looking into possible coconspirators to the deadly attack.
FBI officials said earlier Wednesday they don’t believe Jabbar acted alone, but three men and a woman who authorities previously said placed unknown devices in the French Quarter are no longer considered part of the terror scheme.
“The law enforcement and intelligence community are continuing to look for any connections, associations or coconspirators,” Mr. Biden said in his address. “We have nothing additional to report at this time. The investigation is continuing to be active and no one should jump to conclusions.”
The deadly attack on New Year’s in New Orleans came as a Tesla Cybertruck caught fire and exploded outside of the Trump Tower hotel in Las Vegas around 8:40 a.m. local time Wednesday.
The Cybertruck driver died in the incident, and seven bystanders were injured by flying debris.
All are in stable condition, police said, and the driver has yet to be identified.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the Cybertruck explosion “appears likely to be an act of terrorism” and that the incident was caused by some kind of fireworks or explosive device in the vehicle.
Jeremy Schwartz, the FBI Las Vegas office’s acting special agent in charge, said investigators are still trying to determine if the explosion was a terrorist attack.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said the budding friendship between Mr. Musk and President-elect Donald Trump does raise suspicions about the motive behind the explosion.
“It’s a Tesla truck, and we know that Elon Musk is working with President-elect Trump, and it’s the Trump Tower. So there’s obviously things to be concerned about there, and that’s something we continue to look at,” the sheriff said Wednesday evening.
