The FBI confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that the suspect responsible for driving into a crowd of New Year’s Eve revelers in New Orleans on New Year’s Day was carrying an ISIS flag in his vehicle.
According to an FBI media advisory, “An ISIS flag was located in the vehicle, and the FBI is working to determine the subject’s potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations.”
Suspect’s Social Media and Concerns
Images from the suspect’s now-deleted X (formerly Twitter) account show that he had expressed concerns about Hollywood’s portrayal of black men. He wrote, “Is anyone making a movie with a black man playing a character that is not submissive, immoral, or silly/immature? Haven’t seen one since Black Panther.”
Other posts revealed his frustrations with the interpretation of the Qur’an.
Weapons and Potential IEDs Found
The investigation took a more alarming turn when weapons and a potential improvised explosive device (IED) were discovered in the suspect’s vehicle. Authorities also found additional potential IEDs in the French Quarter. The FBI’s Special Agent Bomb Technicians are working alongside local law enforcement to determine if these devices are active threats. One IED was detonated by a bomb squad at 8:30 a.m.
“The FBI is the lead investigative agency, and we are working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism. We are aggressively running down all leads to identify any possible associates of the subject,” the FBI stated. They have urged anyone with relevant information to contact authorities.
Additional Details and Potential Associates
Shamsud Din Jabbar was a father and a military veteran who had been involved in selling weapons.
Fox News reported earlier that authorities do not believe Jabbar acted alone. There are indications that he may have had 4-5 potential associates, though specific details on these individuals have not yet been disclosed.
Jabbar was identified as a property manager working for a veteran-owned real estate firm in Houston, Texas. The white EV Ford F-150 used in the attack was reportedly rented through the Turo car-sharing app.
The FBI continues to investigate the case as a terrorist attack, and the search for additional suspects remains ongoing.
This is a developing story, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.
