Federal investigators have uncovered a cache of weapons and explosive devices from the pickup truck used in Wednesday’s deadly rampage through New Orleans’ historic French Quarter, elevating concerns about a potential broader terrorist plot during one of the city’s busiest tourist periods.
The attack
In a devastating turn of events, the normally festive Bourbon Street became a scene of chaos when a pickup truck breached police barricades at 3:15 am local time, plowing through crowds gathered for both New Year’s celebrations and the Sugar Bowl college football playoff game. The attack left 15 dead and 33 injured, including two police officers who were wounded in a subsequent shootout but are now in stable condition.
Arsenal discovered
The FBI’s investigation has revealed disturbing evidence suggesting a coordinated terrorist attack. According to a Louisiana State Police intelligence bulletin obtained by The Associated Press, authorities discovered:
- Multiple firearms
- Pipe bombs concealed in coolers
- Remote detonation devices
- An ISIS flag attached to the vehicle’s trailer hitch
Alethea Duncan, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s New Orleans field office, confirmed that authorities believe the identified driver, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, did not act alone. Surveillance footage captured three additional suspects—three men and a woman—placing improvised explosive devices in the area.
Deliberate act of terror
Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick described the attack as deliberate and methodical, stating that the driver was “hell-bent on creating carnage.” The presence of multiple explosive devices and surveillance footage of accomplices has prompted the FBI to classify this as an act of terrorism.
The attack has forced a postponement of the Sugar Bowl playoff game, originally scheduled at the nearby Superdome, to Thursday night. The incident has cast a shadow over one of New Orleans’ premier tourist destinations during its peak season.
Growing trend of vehicle attacks
This incident follows a disturbing pattern of vehicle-based terrorist attacks globally. Just last month, a similar attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, resulted in five fatalities, including a 9-year-old child.
The FBI continues to lead the investigation, working with local law enforcement to identify and apprehend the additional suspects still at large.
[Related: Who was Shamsud-Din Jabbar, suspect in New Orleans attack?]
