LA - Vehicle drives through New Year's crowd - Multiple fatalities reported - Bourbon Street New Orleans - January 1 2025

[SouthAussie]

Isn’t ISIS based in Iraq and Syria and mostly focused on influencing local regions?

Yes and no.

Yes = The Assad regime in Syria collapsed a month ago. ISIS is apparently ramping up its efforts in the political vacuum.


No = The group has counseled patience in its efforts to target the United States and other Western countries since it lost its self-declared “caliphate” territory in Iraq and Syria in 2019 .... Still, Webber said, it “has remained highly active online, and a robust official and supporting network of propaganda outlets have flourished across platforms.”

Authorities have cited ISIS’ branch in Afghanistan, known as ISIS-K, as a particular danger.

“The New Orleans terrorist attack simply confirms what many in the counterterrorism community have been saying for the past year, which is that ISIS remains a stubborn and persistent threat and one which simply isn’t going to fade away"

New Orleans raises specter of persistent ISIS threat

imo

 

[Chimera]

What we know about the victims of the New Orleans truck attack

Fourteen people were killed and more than two dozen were injured when a driver crashed a pickup truck into crowds on Bourbon Street, authorities said.

www.nbcnews.com

Jan. 1, 2025, 8:09 PM CST / Updated Jan. 3, 2025, 5:56 PM CST

The coroner's office on Friday released the names of all but two of the victims killed in the attack.

The two include a British citizen, whose identification was being withheld temporarily at the request of family, and a female whose identity was unknown to the coroner’s office.
Efforts to identify her were pending.

^^^ A nice article and a video tribute; with a little more information about the victims.
Two more have been ID'd :

Rest in peace, Elliot and Brandon.

 

[LadyL]

Five years before a man in a pickup mowed down dozens of New Year’s revelers in New Orleans, a confidential security report warned that the iconic Bourbon Street tourist strip was vulnerable to a “vehicular ramming” attack.

The assessment, prepared by a security firm in November 2019 for the group that manages the city’s French Quarter, warned that the bollards designed to block vehicles from entering Bourbon Street did “not appear to work.” The New York security firm recommended fixing the barriers immediately, and said that “the two modes of terror attack likely to be used are vehicular ramming and active shooting.”

The public version focuses on long-running complaints about rowdiness and crime in the French Quarter, and makes just one reference to the threat of terrorism. The concerns about a vehicular ramming attack and malfunctioning bollards were in a confidential portion of the report that was not released publicly
View attachment 555496

Could Better Security Have Stopped the New Orleans Terror Attack?

City officials were warned in 2019 that the bollards designed to block vehicles did “not appear to work.” They were being fixed when a truck rammed through Bourbon Street on Wednesday.

www.nytimes.com

3 pages:

https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/254803bd64ff87ea/fc56ff29-full.pdf

wait the bollards haven't worked since at least 2019???!!!

I was under the impression that this was a recent thing

 

[LadyL]

His friends did notice that he became very religious. His first wife labeled him crazy and didn't let him see their daughters. Apparently he thought music came from the devil. Of course he had to maintain some facade, not to be caught before he could carry out the attack. IF he didn't connect with ISIS members/sympathizers in real life, he could probably find them online.

yep, dark web

 

[katydid23]

Because in my mind, this is a highly intelligent, accomplished family man, who failed miserable over and over and over, especially in his civilian life. He became a totally broken man who found "his only way out". And it was evil. He was not a long time trained, indoctrinated believer of ISIS. He had even given up Muslim in his 20s and 30s. He was 42.

I totally agree with you that enough is not being done to get deeper under the surface to root out any potential increases in ISIS indoctrination on US soil. But getting to that is not really through this guy, in my mind. Unfortunately he may become a trigger to increased acceptance of radical thought. His recent writings WILL show how the evil develops out of the Muslim faith.
But with this guy... I just think that the eventual fall to the violence was not a cause, but rather a means to an end.

Basically, I am agreeing with you. But find this case to be too complex to be a true act of terrorism.

Jabbar's half-brother was also searching for answers, saying Shamsud-Din Jabbar had been struggling to get past a recent divorce but that he showed no signs of anger just weeks prior to the attack.
"He was smart, funny, charismatic, loving, compassionate, humble and literally wouldn't hurt a fly," Abdur Rahim Jabbar told Reuters in an interview at his home in Beaumont, Texas. "That's why it's so devastating. This degree of maliciousness is not like him. We are trying to understand what changed, too."
Shamsud-Din Jabbar had recently renewed his Muslim faith after abandoning it in his 20s and 30s, his half-brother said.
He appeared to have made a series of religious audio recordings 11 months ago that contained radical views on the evils of music as well as more mainstream Islamic views such as condemning drugs and alcohol. "One of the signs of the end of times will be that some groups of Muslims will think that playing music is no longer sinful," he said, adding that "Allah will punish them with an earthquake and transformation."

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/police-probe-motive-new-orleans-truck-rampage-2025-01-02/

I agree with most of what you said except for the statement---"he is not a terrorist.'

He intentionally drove into a crowd, and planted IEDS, and shot at police, in order to create chaos and violence and ultimately to terrify others. That is the definition of terrorism.

And it doesn't matter if one does those acts in the name of radical Islam, or because of misogyny [incels], or anti-abortion, or far right extremists----no matter the motivation---if someone plans an act of mass murder because of their socio-political-religious beliefs, it is terrorism. MOO

The fact that he has 3 failed marriages and financial issues are just symptoms of his mental/emotional problems and does not negate his terrorism. IMO

 

[Charlot123]

wait the bollards haven't worked since at least 2019???!!!

I was under the impression that this was a recent thing

It would not surprise me. We visited New Orleans and a couple of places in Texas during Covid.

It seemed that New Orleans was not merely a tourist, but “people outside-oriented” place and hence, its economy was hit way more by COVID than that of Houston, for example. Houston accepted very reasonable approach to COVID. People were outside, and they wore masks. At the same time, some bigger museums and IMAX theater were open (with masks and people spaced out in it). IMHO it was the most reasonable approach I saw anywhere.

So if the French Quarter was defined as unsafe in 2019, give it some time for the information to sink and decide what to do, then came COVID, then probably the whole neighborhood was financially down post-COVID, so maybe now when they should have taken steps, it was realistically forgotten?

 

[Friday Fan]

According to NBC, the suspect used a "very rare explosive compound" that was found in the two IEDS placed in the French Quarter.

NBC reports that investigators are now trying to find out how the suspect could have known how to create the homemade explosive.

NBC cites two senior law enforcement officers for this bombshell development.

"It is extremely concerning and would lead me to believe that he has not acted alone in this," said security expert Mike Cahn. "How would he have come up with the knowledge to make this explosive device if it has never been seen or used in the U.S. or globally prior to this attack?"

New Orleans terror attack suspect made rare compound, NBC reports

According to NBC, the suspect used a "very rare explosive compound" that was found in the two IEDS placed in the French Quarter.

www.wdsu.com

The rare compound has never been used in a U.S. terror attack or incident and has never been used in a European attack.

The searches of Jabbar’s home have yielded what authorities described as “bomb-making materials” and “precursor chemicals,” they say he used to make the two functional explosive devices.

Shamsud-Din Jabbar used ‘very rare chemical’ in bombs he placed near New Orleans truck attack

Over the last two days, investigators have searched the Houston-area trailer owned by Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the man who killed 14 people in New Orleans in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day.

www.click2houston.com

They were both in coolers, according to the FBI. One was found at the cross-section of Bourbon Street and Orleans Street. The second device was at the intersection of Bourbon Street and Toulouse Street. Both were “rendered safe,” according to the FBI. Jabbar was captured on surveillance cameras placing those IEDs.

A source familiar with the investigation also told KPRC 2’s Bryce Newberry that Jabbar stopped at a fast-food restaurant off I-45 Monday.

‘Precursor chemicals’ found in Shamsud-Din Jabbar’s Houston trailer after New Orleans attack

Bomb-making materials have been found in the Houston-area trailer owned by Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the man responsible for the deadly Bourbon Street attack on New Year’s Day.

www.click2houston.com

I wonder what the heck it is and what the heck they're talking about.

 

[girlhasnoname]

Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Army veteran and U.S.-born citizen from Texas, went to Egypt alone and told his family he was going "because it was cheap and beautiful," his half-brother, 24-year-old Abdur Jabbar, said.

Investigators are working to determine what he did during his travel in Egypt, why he went and who he interacted with while there, multiple sources said. Critical to the probe is whether he had been radicalized prior to the travel or if the travel marked the start of his radicalization.

"This next most important phase of the investigation is to find out how that radicalization happened and if it happened on that trip," Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams told ABC News.

New Orleans attack: Suspect's travel to Egypt under investigation

The suspect in the truck attack that killed 14 and injured dozens on New Orleans' Bourbon street on New Year's had traveled to Egypt in 2023 for about a month.

abcnews.go.com

It was said that SDJ had severe financial problems. Traveling to and staying in Europe for a month is certainly not cheap. Who funded that trip I wonder? Himself or someone else?

JMO

 

[girlhasnoname]

Oh I agree @Arkay we should always try to take all the precautions we can. I just was more commenting on the over focus on the bollards as if THAT would have stopped this man if they were there instead of police cars blocking the way. It seems they would not have either due to him going on the sidewalk and right into people in front the of the police. I don't want the focus to be on how this would not have happened if those things would have been there because with what we know right now, it seems it still would have been possible. he sure did walk the coolers right in. Not sure why they didn't go off, but maybe he didn't detonate them or in the aftermath of him crashing he just started shooting instead of remembering he was going to detonate the IEDs.. if he did detonate them, many more would have been harmed/killed.

I think some just want to find something to blame other than the terrorist. They are more upset that bollards were being replaced and not up than they are that a man decided to commit this horrific act. These evil doers seem to find ways around the safety measures we take. It's sad that LE and those charged with trying to make places as safe as can be have to get all the things right 100% of the time and the terrorist just has to get it right once.

Absolutely agree, if a person is intent on causing or doing harm, there is very little in the way of precautions that would stop them. They might have a partner, parent, friend or something (SM postings) to raise the flag on suspicious behavior, but ultimately even that often times doesn't work.

How many of these mass shooters or terrorists have we found out have actually been on the FBI watch list and interviewed? Many unfortunately.

JMO

 

[girlhasnoname]

While the number of people with military backgrounds involved in violent extremist plots remains small, the participation of active military and veterans gave extremist plots more potential for mass injury or death, according to data collected and analyzed by the AP and START.

More than 480 people with a military background were accused of ideologically driven extremist crimes from 2017 through 2023, including the more than 230 arrested in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection — 18% of those arrested for the attack as of late last year, according to START. The data tracked individuals with military backgrounds, most of whom were veterans, involved in plans to kill, injure or inflict damage for political, social, economic or religious goals.

The AP’s analysis found that plots involving people with military backgrounds were more likely to involve mass casualties, weapons training or firearms than plots that didn’t include someone with a military background. This held true whether or not the plots were carried out.

New Orleans attack and Vegas explosion highlight extremist violence by active military and veterans

Much remains unknown about the man who carried out an attack in New Orleans and another who died in an explosion in Las Vegas on New Year’s. One was an

www.channel3000.com

Look at Timothy McVeigh he checks all the boxes too. Former military, radicalized against the government over their handling of the Waco Incident. Largest domestic terrorist mass murder in history - 168 dead, 19 of them children.

This guy seems like he had a well thought out plan and I believe he had assistance in pulling it off. I believe there is more to it than he was upset, snapped and just did it. I can see that scenario being more likely in the LV incident, which I believe was a message or protest to Trump/Musk.

All MOO

JMO

 

[Charlot123]

I wonder what the heck it is and what the heck they're talking about.

IMHO, people who are interviewed might either wish to provide more information, or none at all.

Jabbar spoke Arabic, right? He could have looked at any homemade schemes anywhere on the web and won’t be the first to do so. His IEDs didn’t detonate, which is probably common.

IED with “rare type of explosive?” The chemistry of explosions is an objective thing, but the materials might be subjective because they are used in places where conventional explosives are unavailable. They are probably posted online, hence the recipe.

Could they be hinting at biological weapons? Half-hearted attempts were made in the US, although unsuccessful. Historically used in East and SE Asia.

Such an attempt could symbolically connect Jabbar to the hotel and Tesla, but the person organizing it must have the sense of irony and use both guys as vehicles. Which comes back to Turo.

Matt Berg with his tattoos and Jabbar who converted to Islam are superficially an unlikely connection. Looking from the standpoint of not who they “represent”, but who they were “against,” the connection might exist.

 

[Warwick7]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1875478739469136122

 

[Charlot123]

It was said that SDJ had severe financial problems. Traveling to and staying in Europe for a month is certainly not cheap. Who funded that trip I wonder? Himself or someone else?

JMO

It might be cheap if off-season or a person knows how to organize travels, uses miles, etc. I am wondering if him overspending on women was a certain personality, or the opposite, the sign that he was easily taken advantage of.

 

[GRT]

It was said that SDJ had severe financial problems. Traveling to and staying in Europe for a month is certainly not cheap. Who funded that trip I wonder? Himself or someone else?

JMO

Great question!

He told his family he was going because it was really cheap and beautiful. If someone else was footing the bill, I'm sure it was really cheap...for him. But travel to Eqypt isn't cheap for the rest of us, especially if we stay in decent hotels. Where did he stay? How did he get around? Who fed him?

 

[GRT]

Look at Timothy McVeigh he checks all the boxes too. Former military, radicalized against the government over their handling of the Waco Incident. Largest domestic terrorist mass murder in history - 168 dead, 19 of them children.

This guy seems like he had a well thought out plan and I believe he had assistance in pulling it off. I believe there is more to it than he was upset, snapped and just did it. I can see that scenario being more likely in the LV incident, which I believe was a message or protest to Trump/Musk.

All MOO

JMO

I've been thinking of McVeigh a lot since this most recent terror incident--mostly because he purchased the nitrite he used to make the bomb in my little Kansas town. The farmer's CO-OP where he bought it keeps sales records and several of my acquaintances were called in for interviews if they'd made purchases that day.

The FBI and ATF were all over my town, searching large buildings and talking to people. But no one knew much; we were just a stop along the way, I guess.

 

[girlhasnoname]

Great question!

He told his family he was going because it was really cheap and beautiful. If someone else was footing the bill, I'm sure it was really cheap...for him. But travel to Eqypt isn't cheap for the rest of us, especially if we stay in decent hotels. Where did he stay? How did he get around? Who fed him?

Yes, what was he doing for an entire month? That's a long time to vacation in another country without the financial means to enjoy the many historical and cultural attractions.

MOO

 

[indicolite22]

His brother, Abdur Rahman Jabbar, spoke to KPRC 2′s Joy Addison, providing insight into his half-sibling’s past, the shocking events that led to this tragedy, and the family’s reaction to the revelation of bomb-making materials found in Shamsud-Din’s home.
...
In a revealing detail about his brother’s plans, Abdur mentioned that Shamsud-Din had expressed interest in leaving the U.S. He had visited Egypt for an extended period and told his family he was considering relocating there or possibly to Morocco, citing the lower cost of living in those countries.

New Orleans Bourbon Street Attack: Suspect’s family shares insight into his life before the attack

In the wake of the tragic shooting that left 14 people dead on Bourbon Street in New Orleans early Wednesday morning, new details are emerging about the suspect, Shamsuddin Jabbar, and his life before the attack.

www.click2houston.com

His brother says that he was always Muslim, just didn't practice his religion in his 20s, when he liked to party.

 

[indicolite22]

Different source about his Egypt stay (BBM):

A U.S. government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Jabbar traveled to Egypt in 2023,staying in Cairo for a week, before returning to the U.S. and then traveling to Toronto for three days. It was not immediately clear what he did during those travels.

Terrorist Shamsud-Din Jabbar had Quran open to ‘martyrdom’ page at his home

The new images reveal clues about how Shamsud-Din Jabbar allegedly planned and was inspired to carry out the mass killings in New Orleans on January 1, where 14 people died.

www.themirror.com

 

[indicolite22]

A third source:

Law enforcement sources told The Post that they found videos Jabbar made where he referenced the Quran — Islam’s holy text.

Jabbar traveled to Egypt for 10 days last year, officials told The Post.

Exclusive | Inside terrorist Shamsud-Din Jabbar’s squalid home, where sheep and goats roam his yard — after his financial ruin

Jabbar, a US-born military veteran, lived in a squalid trailer park on the outskirts of Houston that is home to mostly Muslim immigrants — with a mosque within walking distance.

nypost.com

I'm not sure if they mean 2023 or 2024.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

I agree with most of what you said except for the statement---"he is not a terrorist.'

He intentionally drove into a crowd, and planted IEDS, and shot at police, in order to create chaos and violence and ultimately to terrify others. That is the definition of terrorism.

And it doesn't matter if one does those acts in the name of radical Islam, or because of misogyny [incels], or anti-abortion, or far right extremists----no matter the motivation---if someone plans an act of mass murder because of their socio-political-religious beliefs, it is terrorism. MOO

The fact that he has 3 failed marriages and financial issues are just symptoms of his mental/emotional problems and does not negate his terrorism. IMO

Agree 100% with this.
I will add that just because he was not a long time indoctrinated follower of ISIS that doesn’t negate his belief or fervor for it.
The guy was obviously messed up….he talked about thinking of killing his entire family. But he didn’t.
Killing “nonbelievers” was what interested him. He wanted everybody to hear that….nonbelievers needed to be killed….and he had left this shining example for everyone. Except for his radical ISIS thinking, there would have been no New Orleans attack. He is a terrorist. He chose to be a terrorist.
I feel certain LE knows more than we know about the ISIS threads that exist in our country, but they sure as heck better be investigating hard this guy’s connections. He was just the foot soldier.


My opinion