The attack occurred just after 3 am local time on January 1st on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter. Witnesses reported seeing a black truck with an ISIS flag as it crashed into the throng.
President Joe Biden shared in a televised statement following the attack that the FBI discovered evidence of Jabbar posting videos on social media hours earlier, which ‘indicated he was inspired by ISIS and expressed a desire to kill’.
After the truck came to a halt, Jabbar opened fire, injuring two police officers, before being shot dead by law enforcement.
The FBI is treating the incident as a terrorist act, with special agent Alethea Duncan stating that investigators suspect Jabbar may not have acted alone.
As details of the event unfold, a video has emerged showing Jabbar introducing himself as a property manager and team lead.
“I just want to say hello and let you know a little bit about me,” Jabbar says in the video. “I’m born and raised in Beaumont, Texas and now live in Houston. I’ve been here all my life, with the exception of traveling for the military, where I spent 10 years as a human resources specialist and IT specialist, where I learned the meaning of great service and what it means to be responsive and take everything seriously.”
In the video, Jabbar also discusses his real estate expertise and provides his contact number for potential clients.
Following the New Year’s attack, authorities described the driver’s actions as ‘very intentional’ and mentioned he appeared determined to cause as much harm as possible.
New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick remarked: “This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could.”
The FBI is currently investigating a ‘range of suspects’ possibly linked to the attack and is examining any connections Jabbar might have had with terrorist groups.