Bourbon Street carnage: Surveillance footage captures terror suspect an hour before New Orleans truck-ramming attack

On the third day following the truck-ramming attack that resulted in the deaths of 14 people, including the alleged terrorist, New Orleans is still grappling with the aftermath.

The FBI released new eerie surveillance images on Thursday showing the deceased suspect, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, just an hour before he allegedly sped a rented Ford pick-up through a crowd of Bourbon Street revelers in the attack that officials say was inspired by the Islamic State. More than 30 others were injured. Despite previously investigating the potential of accomplices in the attack, the FBI said on Thursday the bureau is confident Jabbar acted alone. The investigation now focuses on how Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran who recently held a six-figure job, was radicalized. He grew up Muslim in Texas and most recently lived in Houston.

"The FBI is intensifying its investigation into the attack, with special agents and assets being deployed from across the country. While the investigation is only 24 hours old, there is currently no indication that anyone else was involved in the attack besides Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar. Victim specialists and additional teams of agents are arriving to provide more assistance to the victims and their families."

"What transpired in New Orleans was an act of terrorism. It was premeditated and an evil deed," he stated.

The FBI released surveillance images of Jabbar, who was dressed in a long light brown coat, a dark button-down shirt, blue jeans, and brown dress shoes, walking along Dauphine St. near Governor Nicholls St. at 2:03 a.m. CST, about an hour before the attack. Officials stated that Jabbar placed coolers on the street, and he planted improvised explosive devices with the intention of causing additional carnage.

In addition to Jabbar's Airbnb property in New Orleans and his home in Houston, federal authorities were also searching an Airbnb property in New Orleans that caught fire early Wednesday morning.

By early afternoon Thursday, Bourbon Street, renowned globally for its music, open-air drinking, and lively atmosphere, resumed operations.

The Sugar Bowl college football game between Notre Dame and Georgia, which was postponed by a day in the interest of national security, was played Thursday evening. The Joan of Arc parade in the French Quarter is still scheduled to take place Monday to kick off carnival season ahead of Mardi Gras, said Antoinette de Alteriis, one of the organizers. She said they expect close to its typical crowd of around 30,000 participants. The FBI has continued to hunt for clues about Jabbar but, a day into its investigation, the agency said it was confident he was not aided by anyone else in the attack, which killed an 18-year-old aspiring nurse, a single mother, a father of two and a former Princeton University football star, among others.

The FBI stated that prior to the attack, Jabbar, a US citizen from Texas, posted five videos on Facebook expressing his support for the Islamic State group and previewing the violence he would soon carry out in the French Quarter district. This was the deadliest IS-inspired assault on US soil in years, revealing the growing international terrorism threat as warned by federal officials.

The FBI and other agencies anticipate significant leadership changes and policy adjustments following the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump's administration.

There was no indication of a connection between the New Orleans attack and the explosion Wednesday of a Tesla Cybertruck filled with explosives outside Trump’s Las Vegas hotel, as Raia emphasized.

Officials stated that the New Orleans attack plans involved placing crude bombs in the neighborhood in an attempt to cause more harm. However, two improvised explosive devices found in coolers several blocks apart were rendered safe at the scene. It was determined that other devices were nonfunctional.

Investigators were attempting to comprehend more about Jabbar's journey to radicalization, which they claim led to him renting a truck in Houston on December 30th and driving it to New Orleans the next day.

The FBI discovered a black IS flag in Jabbar's rented truck and reviewed five Facebook videos, including one where he revealed his initial plan to harm his family and friends but was worried the media would not focus on the "struggle between believers and non-believers," Raia stated. Jabbar also admitted to joining IS before last summer and left a last will and testament, the FBI added.

In 2007, Jabbar enlisted in the Army and served in human resources and information technology before deploying to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010, according to the Army.

In 2015, he joined the Army Reserve and attained the rank of staff sergeant before leaving in 2020.

Jabbar's half-brother revealed to Planet Chronicle that the suspected New Orleans attacker had been radicalized and struggled to cope with his actions.

In Beaumont, Texas, where they grew up alongside three additional siblings, Planet Chronicle interviewed Abdur Rahim-Jabbar.

Abdur stated that he and his family were raised as Muslims. He added that Jabbar left Islam but later returned after his divorce in 2022.

Jabbar's half-brother revealed that he joined the Army in search of direction and a stable career path. After two divorces, he was seeking guidance. The brother attributed the attack to radicalization and stated that he did not notice any warning signs beforehand. He expressed his sympathy for the victims and emphasized that the attack was not a reflection of his brother or the Muslim community as a whole.

An anonymous U.S. government official revealed to the Associated Press that Jabbar visited Egypt in 2023, staying in Cairo for a week, before heading to Toronto for three days. The purpose of his travels remains unclear.

As tribute to the victims, flowers and candles were arranged on Bourbon Street, while yellow posts were set up on the surrounding blocks. By Thursday night, bouncers danced to music blasting from clubs, tourists posed for photos, and a group of street performers preparing to flip over a line of people had no trouble attracting a massive audience.

Planet Chronicle' Brooke Taylor and the Associated Press contributed to this report.