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

[BrownRice]

Does anyone remember Toronto in 2018 when a man called Alex Minassian rented a van then drove it down Yonge St on a regular day - no parade, no event, just a normal day in April. He killed 10 people and seriously injured 16 people. He basically blamed his act on the incel movement. LE can have all sorts of barriers up for special events but someone just veering off a street killing multiple pedestrians during an ordinary day? No amount of planning can protect us from random acts.

I feel so badly sometimes when I can’t remember all of these horrible events. Knowing that to some, they lost the most precious people in their lives and they’re still grieving. But to most of the world, it’s just moving on to the next horrible event that will become a distant memory, if that, until the next.

2025 definitely isn’t starting out on a hopeful chance.

 

[girlhasnoname]

Does asking about the cameras imply that he thought he was going to get by with it?

I believe he planned on suicide by cop, especially since he specifically engaged them in gunfire when he exited the vehicle. He could have thrown his weapon down and put his hands up in a surrendering motion if he wanted to live.

JMO

 

[knla]

Does asking about the cameras imply that he thought he was going to get by with it?

Maybe a visitor was worried about being caught on camera. Somebody may have picked up some bombs. Or a handler. He lived close to the airport.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

The driver was a terrorist, IMO. He purposely drove into a crowd of people in order to slaughter them and terrorise our country.

Did you see the INSTRUCTIONS put out by ISIS to their followers? They specifically ordered their followers to consider driving into a crowd and killing as many as possible in order to create fear and terror.

He hung an ISIS flag on the truck to make sure they got the credit. So how is the LoLa attack not terrorism?

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/

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Yet the bollards at 11 of 16 locations – including at the foot of Bourbon Street, where the attack began – were down for repairs on Wednesday, with officials saying they had become “unreliable and [had] been non-operational” ahead of New Orleans’ hosting duties for the National Football League’s Super Bowl on 9 February.

One factor they cited: beads thrown during the city’s renowned Carnival parades had clogged the barrier system.

Surveillance video from the attack showed the former military member drive over another type of impediment on the first block of Bourbon Street – known as a wedge barrier and implemented as part of the 2017 safety plan – that had been left in the down position. Officials said they had left that wedge barrier down on purpose on the day of the attack to ensure emergency vehicles could get through as necessary.

But that blockade was seen up again on Thursday.

And not present at all was a third kind of blockade deployed previously by New Orleans’ public safety officials: portable, L-shaped archer barriers that are typically erected three or four abreast across a roadway and on sidewalks to stop even speeding motorists by tilting back if struck and wedging under their vehicles.

‘Worst-case scenario’: when needed most, New Orleans barriers were missing in action

Bollards were being repaired – and other barriers were down – when attacker struck, prompting questions

www.theguardian.com

 

[justtrish]

I have come to believe that the only thing in common is that two successful US Military men failed in the civilian world, and felt as if they needed to go out in a blaze of glory. And New Year's Day became their symbolic "right time"

Neither of these are terrorists.

I will disagree with that last statement. The driver in NO is 100% a terrorist. He made videos pleding allegiance to a known terrorist organization. Then he planted 2 IEDs on crowded streets in NO.. then he took a vehicle and drove it onto a crowded walking area in order to kill as many INNOCENT people as he could.. then he took a gun and began firing into the crowd. We know his motive because he told us and we know the result.. 15 innocent people dead and a city terrorized and afraid. He is a terrorist.

The Vegas case we will know soon enough. Thankfully no innocent people died, but what was his motive? Was he trying to kill himself.. did he think that cyber truck would contain the "blast" and was his only goal to kill himself, but send a public message? Maybe.. it could still be viewed as terrorism.

Two things can be true at the same time.. they both were successful soldiers who served honorably. What they did doesn't make that less true, but they could both also be terrorists.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

 

[GRT]

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.

I'm leaning in this direction, too. I think he thrived in the military because it demanded strict compliance with regulations. But, I think he felt at a loss to control his own life outside the military. His wives didn't do what he wanted them to do, he couldn't generate enough business to become/remain debt-free. The world just wasn't living up to his expectations.

And, I think he was a control freak. Joining ISIS seems to indicate that he wanted a level of power over others. He wanted the power of life and death. He was familiar with Islam but left it in his 20s because it didn't provide the level of control he wanted over others. While some factions within Islam hold on to that sort of control, such as the Taliban and Iran's state religion, Islam in the Western world is pretty mild.

I think Jabbar was incredibly resentful of his failures in life and toward the end, he hated everyone and everything.

MOO

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 do think it was terrorism --Jabbar sought to frighten the society that he failed in. I really think he thought -- I'll show you! I'll make you pay!

But, in the end, I don't think he was an islamacist in the purest sense. I think he was just pure evil.

 

[Cartie]

“This is not a terrorist event,” emphasized Alethea Duncan, assistant special agent in charge at the NOLA office.

Now the FBI has admitted what was obvious to everyone, including the killer’s brother — who said Jabbar had been radicalized.

Shamsud-Din Jabbar’s New Orleans attack was terrorism — why did the FBI lie about it?

The FBI initially denied New Orleans attack killer Shamsud-din Jabbar was a terrorist. Why? Biden administration politicization.

nypost.com

…

She needs to be investigated for saying this not knowing what was going at that early time. These are the ppl that are detrimental to the agency that gives the public trust.

Jmo

I did notice she wasn't at the last presser so I'm assuming she's been relieved of being in charge

 

[tlcya]

“This is not a terrorist event,” emphasized Alethea Duncan, assistant special agent in charge at the NOLA office.

Now the FBI has admitted what was obvious to everyone, including the killer’s brother — who said Jabbar had been radicalized.

Shamsud-Din Jabbar’s New Orleans attack was terrorism — why did the FBI lie about it?

The FBI initially denied New Orleans attack killer Shamsud-din Jabbar was a terrorist. Why? Biden administration politicization.

nypost.com

…

She needs to be investigated for saying this not knowing what was going at that early time. These are the ppl that are detrimental to the agency that gives the public trust.

Jmo

I think we all knew she was full of bull and now that has been proven to be the case.

 

[indicolite22]

But, in the end, I don't think he was an islamacist in the purest sense. I think he was just pure evil.

SBM. What else does it take to be a true Islamist, apart from hating non-Muslims and justifying/enacting their murder in the name of religion? IMO it doesn't matter how he arrived there. When they raided his home in Texas, they found a bomb making operation and the Koran open on a certain page. He was devout by the accounts of people who knew him. If he was a moderate, he would not have put a stain on his religion.

 

[Chimera]

I believe he planned on suicide by cop, especially since he specifically engaged them in gunfire when he exited the vehicle. He could have thrown his weapon down and put his hands up in a surrendering motion if he wanted to live.

JMO

Bbm.
I think that's likely !

It's just sad that these types can't take their own life first, instead of murdering innocents -- & shattering their loved one's lives.
Or better yet -- get help and stop following murderous Isis ideologies. Shamsud left evidence including his use of the chemicals to produce his bombs (a little bomb factory, if you will) and his opened Koran book with the passage upon which he seemed to indicate that he based his radical motives.
Imo.

 

[ekardh]

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/

"IT'S NOT TERRORISM BECAUSE..... BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT OKAY!?"

 

[Chimera]

I did notice she wasn't at the last presser so I'm assuming she's been relieved of being in charge

Bbm.
Lol. That could indeed be the case !
Would've liked to have been a fly on the wall for that conversation -- if that's how it went down ?

Was this the official who had to remove the nose ring-- or was that a different lady.
Maybe they decided to bring in someone with more experience working terrorism crimes.
Omo.

 

[ekardh]

Yet the bollards at 11 of 16 locations – including at the foot of Bourbon Street, where the attack began – were down for repairs on Wednesday, with officials saying they had become “unreliable and [had] been non-operational” ahead of New Orleans’ hosting duties for the National Football League’s Super Bowl on 9 February.

One factor they cited: beads thrown during the city’s renowned Carnival parades had clogged the barrier system.

Surveillance video from the attack showed the former military member drive over another type of impediment on the first block of Bourbon Street – known as a wedge barrier and implemented as part of the 2017 safety plan – that had been left in the down position. Officials said they had left that wedge barrier down on purpose on the day of the attack to ensure emergency vehicles could get through as necessary.

But that blockade was seen up again on Thursday.

And not present at all was a third kind of blockade deployed previously by New Orleans’ public safety officials: portable, L-shaped archer barriers that are typically erected three or four abreast across a roadway and on sidewalks to stop even speeding motorists by tilting back if struck and wedging under their vehicles.

‘Worst-case scenario’: when needed most, New Orleans barriers were missing in action

Bollards were being repaired – and other barriers were down – when attacker struck, prompting questions

www.theguardian.com

To be honest, it's disgraceful that the media is focusing on this as the problem, and not the fact that we live in a society where terrorists could kill us and our children at any moment.

 

[indicolite22]

Bbm.
Lol. That could indeed be the case !
Would've liked to have been a fly on the wall for that conversation -- if that's how it went down ?

Was this the official who had to remove the nose ring-- or was that a different lady.
Maybe they decided to bring in someone with more experience working terrorism crimes.
Omo.

The nose ring was a non-issue for me. Her early declaration that it wasn't a terrorist event, despite the mass casualties and her (likely) knowledge about the ISIS flag, is another matter. I hope blank denial is not part of the policy, because it makes the FBI look bad.

 

[Cartie]

Bbm.
Lol. That could indeed be the case !
Would've liked to have been a fly on the wall for that conversation -- if that's how it went down ?

Was this the official who had to remove the nose ring-- or was that a different lady.
Maybe they decided to bring in someone with more experience working terrorism crimes.
Omo.

It was the same lady that had the nose piercing

 

[Arkay]

I have come to believe that the only thing in common is that two successful US Military men failed in the civilian world, and felt as if they needed to go out in a blaze of glory. And New Year's Day became their symbolic "right time"

Neither of these are terrorists.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/01/us/shamsud-din-jabbar-suspect-new-orleans-attack/index.html

FBI believes Bourbon Street terrorist acted alone, posted videos before New Orleans attack • Washington State Standard

The man who sped down Bourbon Street early New Year’s Day in a pickup truck, killing at least 14 people is believed to have acted alone.

washingtonstatestandard.com

The FBI has stated that this act was 100% inspired by ISIS terrorism.

In his Facebook messages, he said he’d thought of killing his family but then the headlines would not focus on the “war between believers and non-believers.”
He left his Koran open to a verse that he believed gave him the command to kill those who don’t believe in Islam.

There are unfortunately many disturbed people who annihilate their families. But that’s the extent of what they do. They are satiated by killing the family.

This man employed the classic ISIS-inspired act of mowing down innocent people. His messages, flag, and means of destruction were ISIS 101.

He is a pure and classic Islamic terrorist.

IMO

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

To be honest, it's disgraceful that the media is focusing on this as the problem, and not the fact that we live in a society where terrorists could kill us and our children at any moment.

I think the media is focused on the bollards because the reason they were first implemented in the City of New Orleans is because of Islamic terrorism. imo.

Like the rest of those living in New Orleans at the time, Aaron Miller – then the city’s homeland security director – was terrified after a gunman drove a truck into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in the French coastal city of Nice in 2016, killing 86 people and wounding many more in a terrorist attack claimed by the Islamic State (IS).

Similar car attacks in Berlin, London, New York and Barcelona also put him on edge as he thought about the safety of his city.

“We just said … it’s just too risky right now” to not fortify New Orleans’ most famous thoroughfare, Bourbon Street, the globally renowned festive drag. “God forbid somebody does this [here].”

By the end of 2017, Miller had overseen the city’s acquisition of road-blocking, cylindrical columns known as bollards – along with other barriers – designed to prevent terrorists from driving into revelers descending on Bourbon Street for one of the city’s many celebrations.

‘Worst-case scenario’: when needed most, New Orleans barriers were missing in action

Bollards were being repaired – and other barriers were down – when attacker struck, prompting questions

www.theguardian.com

 

[Cryptic]

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". He was not a long time trained, indoctrinated believer of ISIS.

I think you have a good summary regarding a significant number of terrorists. These terrorists can be religious based, ethnic- nationalist based, or politically based.

Yet, as you alluded to, a good number would not have committed terrorism had they not had one, and usually, a combination of the following:

- Loss of social status- and no easy way to regain it.
- Unemployed, or employment of the "dead end" type.
- Going "incel" due to an inability maintain meaningful relationships.
- Stress induced from divorce(s), estrangement from family members etc.

Add it all up, and terrorism can be, as you stated, "the only way out" of a life that has lost its meaning.