FBI Director Christopher Wray revealed that the New Orleans terrorist attacker, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was radicalized by ISIS online in a matter of weeks. Jabbar tragically killed 14 civilians by ramming a rented truck through a New Year's crowd on Bourbon Street and engaging in a shootout with police, resulting in his death.
Wray described these types of threats as particularly challenging, as individuals like Jabbar radicalize quickly and carry out deadly yet crude attacks. The FBI disclosed Jabbar's recent travels to Cairo and Ontario, indicating a pattern of movement before the attack.
Jabbar, a twice-divorced Army veteran with financial struggles, had visited New Orleans twice before the incident. He rented a truck in Houston, drove to New Orleans, and attempted to cover up evidence by burning materials at an AirBnb property he stayed in.
Wray emphasized that Jabbar's radicalization and determination to harm innocent people in the name of ISIS highlight the growing trend of lone wolf threats in the U.S. He cited another recent case where a Pakistani citizen planned a mass shooting at a Jewish Center in Brooklyn, underscoring the seriousness of these threats.
The FBI is actively investigating the New Orleans attack to determine if Jabbar had any accomplices, although current evidence suggests he acted alone. Wray stressed the importance of addressing online radicalization and the need for vigilance in preventing such attacks in the future.
