The FBI provides an update on the truck attack in New Orleans that left 14 people dead

On Thursday (January 2), the FBI provided updated information about the assault of a former US soldier in New Orleans. 14 people died and at least 35 were injured Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove his Ford pickup truck into a crowd of people on New Year’s Day.

According to Associated PressLaw enforcement has confirmed that Shamsud-Din acted alone in the attack. However, he was inspired by the Islamic State group.

AP reported that this was the deadliest attack committed by IS on US soil in many years. Among the dead were an 18-year-old aspiring nurse, a single mother, a father of two and a former Princeton University football star.

More details about the New Orleans attack

The FBI also revealed more details about the deceased driver, who was an American citizen from Texas. Hours before the attack, Shamsud-Din Jabbar posted five videos to his Facebook account in which he declared his support for the militant group ISIS.

In his video, Jabbar also warned about violence he planned to commit in New Orleans’ famous French Quarter. A clip shows him admitting that he first planned to harm his family and friends. However, he changed his mind because he was concerned that news headlines would not focus on “the battle between believers and non-believers.”

“This is an act of terrorism. It was a premeditated evil act,” said Christopher Raia.

Christopher is deputy assistant director of the FBI’s counterterrorism division. He assured the public that Jabbar was “100% inspired” by the Islamic State. As mentioned, Jabbar killed 14 people celebrating the holiday when he sped over a barricade and crashed into the crowd. He later died in a shootout with police.

According to the FBI, Shamsud-Din Jabbar picked up a rental truck in Houston on December 30 and drove to New Orleans the next day. Surveillance video later showed Jabbar placing an improvised explosive device in a cooler along the city’s Bourbon Street. However, the agency is confident that no one else shown in the video helped Jabbar carry out the attack. However, investigators still plan to interview them as witnesses. Jabbar’s equipment was in a cooler and another was secured at the scene. The other devices he ordered are not working.

The FBI also recovered a black Islamic State flag from Jabbar’s rented pickup truck. In addition, he left behind a last will and testament, the agency said.

Shamsud-Din Jabbar’s brother spoke up

For context, Jabbar joined the Army in 2007, served on active duty in human resources and information technology, and deployed to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010. He transferred to the Army Reserve in 2015 and left in 2020 with the rank of sergeant.

Abdur-Rahim JabbarJabbar’s younger brother told the Associated Press on Thursday that there was “no real sense” that his brother could have done this.

“I never thought it would be him,” he said. “It’s completely unlike him.”

He said his brother had been isolated for the past few years but he had also been in contact with him and he did not see any signs of radicalization. “It was completely at odds with who he was and how his family and friends knew him,” said brother.

Meanwhile, swipe below to see how President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump reacted to the incident.

The FBI blocks any connection between the New Orleans and Las Vegas attacks

New Orleans authorities finished processing the crime scene early Thursday morning, including removing the last of the bodies. Bourbon Street—famous around the world for its music, outdoor drinking, and festive atmosphere—reopened for business in the early afternoon.

More than 1,500 miles away in Las Vegas, another incident left one person dead and others injured. Local police are still investigating whether the incident was a targeted attack or terrorism. However, it has been confirmed that the New Year’s Day explosion was NOT a mechanical problem with the Cybertruck. The incident happened in front of Trump International Hotel.

Raia from the FBI insisted that there was no connection between what happened in New Orleans and Las Vegas.

RELATED: Officials explain the Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside the Trump hotel on New Year’s Day

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Associated Press reporters who contributed to this report include Eric Tucker, Jim Mustian, Kevin McGill, Mack Brook, Stephen Smith, Chevel Johnson, Brett Martel, Jeff Martin, Alanna Durkin Richer, Tara Copp, Zeke Miller, Darlene Superville in New Castle, Colleen Long and Michael R. Sisak.