- On New Year’s Day 2025, a rented Ford F-150 pickup truck plowed into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more.
- The driver, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran and former Deloitte employee, exited the vehicle and opened fire on police before being fatally shot. The attack is being investigated as an act of terrorism.
- Authorities discovered two RDX-based bombs near the attack site, which failed to detonate due to a faulty mechanism.
- An ISIS flag was also found on the truck, along with weapons and potential improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Investigators are determining whether Jabbar acted alone or had accomplices.
- The FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a warning about the potential for copycat or retaliatory attacks, citing the accessibility and effectiveness of vehicle ramming as a tactic for violent extremists.
The vibrant streets of New Orleans’ French Quarter, typically alive with music, laughter and celebration, were transformed into a scene of horror on New Year’s Day 2025. In the early hours of Jan. 1, a rented Ford F-150 pickup truck plowed into a crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more.
The driver, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran and former Deloitte employee, exited the vehicle and opened fire on police before being fatally shot. The attack, now being investigated as an act of terrorism, has left a city — and the nation — reeling.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a stark warning, cautioning that the attack could inspire copycat or retaliatory acts of violence.
Both agencies highlighted the persistent appeal of vehicle ramming as a tactic for violent extremists, citing its accessibility and potential for mass casualties. «The FBI and DHS are concerned about possible copycat or retaliatory attacks due to the persistent appeal of vehicle ramming as a tactic for aspiring violent extremist attackers,» the announcement stated.
The warning did not specify particular locations but pointed to large public gatherings as potential targets.
Authorities also revealed that Jabbar had constructed two bombs using the powerful RDX compound, which were stored in coolers near the attack site. Fortunately, the devices failed to detonate due to a faulty triggering mechanism.
Had they exploded, the death toll could have been catastrophic, potentially injuring or killing hundreds.
The deadly attack and its aftermath
The carnage unfolded just after 3:15 a.m. on Bourbon Street, a popular destination for New Year’s Eve celebrations. Jabbar bypassed a police vehicle parked to block cars from entering the pedestrian-heavy area and drove onto the sidewalk, mowing down unsuspecting revelers.
After crashing the truck, Jabbar exited the vehicle and began firing at officers, injuring two before being fatally shot.
In the aftermath, investigators discovered an ISIS flag affixed to the truck’s hitch, along with weapons and potential improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the vehicle and nearby. Authorities are still working to determine whether the IEDs were operational and whether Jabbar acted alone or had accomplices.
The attack has left a deep scar on the city of New Orleans. Families of the victims are grappling with unimaginable grief, while survivors face physical and emotional wounds that may never fully heal.
The tragedy has also reignited fears about the vulnerability of public spaces to acts of terrorism, particularly as extremists continue to exploit easily accessible methods like vehicle ramming. (Related: FBI finally nabs one of the “Most Wanted Terrorists” behind 2003 San Francisco bombings.)
Shamsud-Din Jabbar’s shocking, troubled path to violence
Shamsud-Din Jabbar’s life story is a complex one, marked by military service, professional success and personal struggles. A Texas native, Jabbar served in the U.S. Army from 2006 to 2015, including a deployment to Afghanistan in 2009.
After leaving the military, he worked as an administrative clerk and later joined Deloitte in a staff-level role in 2021.
However, in the months leading up to the attack, Jabbar’s behavior began to change. He reportedly distanced himself from family and friends, and his social media activity shifted to reflect a growing radicalization.
Shortly before the attack, he recorded a message declaring allegiance to ISIS, the Islamic State. Friends and family expressed shock at Jabbar’s actions, describing him as a quiet, intelligent and caring individual.
A childhood friend, Chris Pousson, said that Jabbar’s alleged actions were a «complete 180» from the person he knew. Pousson also said that Jabbar «was very quiet, very reserved, smart, articulate.»
Despite these accounts, Jabbar’s personal life was not without turmoil.
He was married twice, with both marriages ending in divorce. In 2020, his second wife filed for a temporary restraining order, citing concerns about his behavior.
A nation on edge
The New Orleans attack underscores the challenges law enforcement faces in identifying and preventing acts of terrorism. The FBI and DHS emphasized the difficulty of detecting threats due to the highly personal nature of radicalization. Both agencies said that it can be «difficult to assess specific characteristics indicating the intent of U.S.-based violent extremists to conduct violence.»
The public is being urged to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity, particularly signs of online radicalization or mobilization for violence. Authorities have also set up a digital tip line for anyone with information about the attack.
As the nation mourns the victims of the New Orleans tragedy, the FBI and DHS’s warning serves as a chilling reminder of the potential for future attacks. The accessibility of tactics like vehicle ramming, combined with the possibility of additional weapons or explosives, makes such acts of violence particularly difficult to prevent.
In the wake of this tragedy, the question on everyone’s mind is not just how this happened, but what can be done to stop it from happening again. For now, the answer remains elusive, leaving a nation on edge as it braces for the possibility of more violence in the years to come.
The New Orleans attack is a grim reminder of the ever-present threat of terrorism and the devastating impact it can have on communities. As investigators work to uncover the full extent of Jabbar’s motives and connections, the nation must remain vigilant, united and resolute in the face of such senseless violence.
Visit Violence.news for similar stories about violent attacks across the globe.
Watch the video below to learn more about Shamsud-Din Jabbar and the tragic attack on New Orleans.
This video is from the Minister Barton Aaron Porter channel on Brighteon.com.
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