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By Andrew Stanton
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A viral video appears to show Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the suspect in the New Year's attack in New Orleans, discuss his time in the military.
Why It Matters
Jabbar has been named the suspect in the attack, which killed at 15 people and injured at least 30 on Bourbon Street, a popular site for celebrating the new year in New Orleans early Wednesday morning.
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It is the second attack on people during the holiday season in which a vehicle was used as a weapon. On December 20, a man drove a car into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, killing five people and injuring hundreds.
The FBIis investigating Wednesday's attack as an act of terrorism.
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What To Know
Jabbar, 42, is from Texas, according to federal law enforcement. Alethea Duncan, Alethea Duncan, an assistant special agent in charge of the FBI's New Orleans field office, said that he was a U.S. Army veteran during a press conference Wednesday afternoon. She added that law enforcement believes he was honorably discharged but is "working through the process to figure out all this information."
Jabbar joined the Army in 2007, serving on active duty in human resources and information technology and deploying to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010, the service said. He transferred to the Army Reserve in 2015 and left in 2020 with the rank of staff sergeant.
Claims that Jabbar served in the military began to emerge on social media in a video showing a man by the same name discuss his military experience in a 2020 YouTube post.
In the video, the man said he was from Beaumont, Texas, but now lives in Houston and spent 10 years as a human resources and IT specialist in the U.S. Army. While the man has the same name and is from the same state as the suspect, law enforcement has not confirmed they are the same person and has not made any comment on whether Jabbar served in the military.
Newsweek reached out to the military for comment.
New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the male suspect "was trying to run over as many people as he could." She said the incident was the result of "intentional behavior."
"Last night we had over 300 officers out here," she said. "And because of the intentional mindset of this perpetrator who went around our barricades in order to conduct this, he was hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did."
The Associated Press reported, citing an intelligence bulletin, that the FBI reviewed surveillance footage allegedly showing three men and a woman placing an improvised explosive device in New Orleans' French Quarter.
What People Are Saying
President Joe Biden, in a statement: "I will continue to receive updates throughout the day, and I will have more to say as we have further information to share. In the meantime, my heart goes out to the victims and their families who were simply trying to celebrate the holiday. There is no justification for violence of any kind, and we will not tolerate any attack on any of our nation's communities."
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, on X, formerly Twitter: "A horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street earlier this morning. Please join Sharon and I in praying for all the victims and first responders on scene. I urge all near the scene to avoid the area."
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, on X: "Many of us woke up this morning to devastating news of the brutal intentional slaughter of innocent people celebrating the New Year in New Orleans. I'm praying for the victims and their families and will ensure they get justice for this appalling act."
What Happens Next
The public is being asked to avoid Bourbon Street north from Canal to Dumaine streets and east to Royal Street and west to Dauphine Street until further notice.
Anyone with information that can assist is asked to contact the FBI's New Orleans Bureau by calling (504) 816-3000 or emailing tips@fbi.gov.
Update 1/1/25, 3:50 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 1/1/25, 6:05 p.m. ET: This article was updated to note the New Orleans attack death toll has risen to 15 people.
Update 1/1/25, 8:51 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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