FBI director reveals that New Orleans terrorist was radicalized online by ISIS in just weeks.
A twice-divorced Army veteran from Texas, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, struggled financially.
According to FBI Director Christopher Wray, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the New Orleans terrorist attacker, was radicalized by ISIS online "in a matter of weeks."
On January 1st, at 3:15 a.m., Jabbar drove a rented Ford F-150 truck into a crowd celebrating New Year's on Bourbon Street, killing 14 civilians. He then began shooting at police, who returned fire, killing the attacker.
"Wray stated in a "60 Minutes" interview that ISIS has inspired the radicalization of individuals who attack in a crude manner and within a short period of time. He explained that connecting the dots is challenging due to the limited information available, and there is little time to do so."
Jabbar, 42, made two trips in June and July 2023, traveling to Cairo, Egypt, and Ontario, Canada, before returning to the U.S.
Despite having a well-paying job at a big consulting firm, a Texas native with a history of divorce and financial difficulties missed child support payments, according to records.
Before the New Orleans attack, he visited the city twice, once in October and again in November. He recorded videos of his surroundings while riding a bike through the French Quarter using Meta smart glasses.
On Dec. 31, Jabbar rented a Ford truck in Houston and drove it to New Orleans, where he checked into an AirBnb. However, authorities later discovered bomb-making materials and remnants of a fire at the property, suggesting that Jabbar may have tried to cover up his crime by attempting to burn evidence at the rental home in the St. Roch neighborhood, about two miles from the French Quarter.
"According to Wray, it is evident from the evidence that the individual was radicalized online and aimed to kill as many innocent people as possible in the name of ISIS, as stated in his interview with "60 Minutes.""
Lone wolf threats are increasingly prevalent in the United States, he stated.
"A Pakistani citizen, who had been working with Canadian partners to enter the U.S. and carry out a mass shooting at a Jewish Center in Brooklyn, was apprehended by our team. According to Wray, this individual aimed to execute the largest attack in the U.S. since 9/11."
The FBI is still investigating whether Jabbar had any accomplices, despite appearing to have acted alone in the attack.
Planet Chronicle' Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.
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