The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has released harrowing surveillance footage of Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the man responsible for the New Year’s Day terror attack in New Orleans. The video reveals Jabbar planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) concealed in coolers across the French Quarter, raising further questions about the meticulous planning behind his horrifying act.
In the footage, Jabbar is seen wearing Meta-branded smart glasses, a piece of technology investigators believe he used to scout locations during prior visits to the city. His chilling preparation underscores the calculated nature of the attack that left 14 people dead and 35 injured.
Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran from Houston, carried out his deadly mission by driving a rented Ford F-150 Lightning EV truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street. Before this vehicular assault, he had strategically placed two homemade bombs in the area, intending to detonate them remotely.
Fortunately, the devices failed to explode due to what the FBI describes as a malfunction or inactivity.
The released footage shows Jabbar, wearing a brown coat and the distinctive Meta smart glasses, calmly placing the coolers containing the bombs at separate locations along Bourbon Street.
The FBI disclosed that Jabbar had visited New Orleans twice in the months leading up to the attack. During these visits, he used his smart glasses to record videos of the French Quarter, including footage taken during a bicycle tour in October. Investigators believe these trips were part of his meticulous attack planning.
WATCH: FBI releases video of NOLA terrorist wearing Meta glasses and placing coolers with IEDs throughout the French Quarter pic.twitter.com/UQFm3Aox2R
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 5, 2025
Further scrutiny of Jabbar’s activities has revealed international travels to Cairo, Egypt, and Ontario, Canada, in mid-2023. The FBI is investigating whether these trips were tied to his radicalization or involved any preparation for the attack.
Jabbar’s descent into extremism wasn’t limited to public acts of terror. Investigators have uncovered deeply disturbing videos in which he expressed intentions to harm his own family. He detailed plans to gather his family for a fake celebration and then kill them, though he ultimately abandoned this idea.
According to the FBI, Jabbar believed such an act would detract from what he saw as a broader “war between believers and disbelievers,” a conflict he sought to amplify through his attack.
Family members who spoke to media outlets described Jabbar’s erratic behavior following his conversion to Islam. His ex-wife’s husband, Dwayne Marsh, noted that Jabbar had become increasingly unstable, engaging in bizarre activities such as drastically cutting his hair and acting unpredictably. These alarming behaviors led his family to restrict his access to his daughters.
Jabbar had moved to a predominantly Muslim neighborhood north of Houston roughly a year before the attack, a period during which his radicalization appears to have intensified.
The release of the footage has sparked renewed concerns about how Jabbar’s behavior went undetected despite numerous red flags. Investigators are now examining his online activity and personal connections to uncover potential links to extremist networks, including ISIS.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are scheduled to visit New Orleans to meet with victims’ families and first responders. The visit aims to reassure a shaken community and highlight federal efforts to combat domestic terrorism.
While the FBI has yet to release additional details about Jabbar’s motivations or accomplices, the agency is working with local and international partners to ensure that any connections are thoroughly investigated.
The New Orleans terror attack has left a deep scar on the city, known for its vibrant culture and hospitality. Bourbon Street, a symbol of celebration and resilience, now bears the weight of a community grieving lives lost and grappling with questions about how such a tragedy could occur.
As the investigation continues, the release of the video provides a stark reminder of the calculated nature of Jabbar’s actions. It also serves as a call to action for law enforcement, communities, and policymakers to address the growing threats posed by homegrown extremism and the misuse of advanced technology in acts of terror.
For now, New Orleans mourns its victims while bracing for the long road to recovery.
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