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Associated Press

The man responsible for the truck attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day that killed 14 people visited the city twice before and recorded video of the French Quarter with Meta smart glasses, an FBI official said on Sunday.
Shamsud-Din Jabbar also travelled to Cairo and Canada before the attack although it was not yet clear whether those trips were connected to the attack, Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia said at a news conference.
Federal officials believe Jabbar, a US citizen and former US Army soldier, was inspired by Islamic State to carry out the attack.
Police fatally shot Jabbar, 42, during an exchange of gunfire at the scene of the deadly crash of the rented pickup truck on Bourbon Street, famous worldwide for its festive vibes in New Orleans’ historic French Quarter.


Federal investigators so far believe Jabbar acted alone, but are continuing to explore his contacts.
“All investigative details and evidence that we have now still support that Jabbar acted alone here in New Orleans,” said Raia. “We have not seen any indications of an accomplice in the United States, but we are still looking into potential associates in the US and outside of our borders.”
Lyonel Myrthil, FBI special agent in charge of the New Orleans Field Office, said Jabbar travelled to Cairo in the summer of 2023 and then to the Canadian province of Ontario a few days later.
“Our agents are getting answers to where he went, who he met with and how those trips may or may not tie into his actions here,” Myrthil said.
Suspect recorded video with smart glasses while plotting attack, the FBI says
Jabbar had also travelled to New Orleans twice in the months preceding the attack, first in October and again in November. On October 31, Myrthil said Jabbar used glasses from Meta, the parent company of Facebook, to record video as he rode through the French Quarter on a bicycle as “he plotted this hideous attack”. He said Jabbar was also in New Orleans on November 10.




He also wore the glasses capable of live streaming during the attack, but Myrthil said Jabbar did not activate them.
When asked about the glasses, a Meta spokesperson declined to comment to Associated Press.
The FBI released Jabbar’s recorded video from the planning trip to New Orleans as well as video showing him placing two containers with explosive devices in the French Quarter at around 2am shortly before the attack. One of the containers, a cooler, was moved a block away by someone uninvolved with the attack, officials said.
Joshua Jackson, New Orleans special agent in charge, said Jabbar privately purchased a semi-automatic rifle on November 19 from an individual in a legal transaction in Arlington, Texas.
“This was a chance encounter,” Jackson said. “There’s no way this individual knew that Jabbar was radicalised or had any sort of awareness that this attack was imminent.”
Police have used vehicles and barricades to block traffic at Bourbon and Canal streets since. Other law enforcement agencies helped city officers provide extra security, said Reese Harper, a New Orleans police spokesperson.

The first parade of the Carnival season leading up to Mardi Gras in March is scheduled Monday evening. New Orleans also will host the Super Bowl on February 9.
In a previous effort to protect the French Quarter, the city installed steel columns known as bollards to restrict vehicle access to Bourbon Street. The posts normally retract to allow deliveries to bars and restaurants. But they stopped working reliably after being gummed up by Mardi Gras beads, beer and other detritus.
When New Year’s Eve arrived, the bollards were gone. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell acknowledged the city remains uncertain as to whether the new bollards it is installing in the French Quarter would be able to stop a similar vehicle attack.
“The thorough assessment that I am asking for will determine whether they are strong enough,” Cantrell said. “I can’t say with surety that’s the case but an expert will be able to do so, and we’ll respond accordingly.” Cantrell said she requested that Homeland Security upgrade Mardi Gras to the highest Special Event Assessment Rating to receive more federal support for security and risk assessments.
President Joe Biden planned to travel to New Orleans with first lady Jill Biden on Monday to “grieve with the families and community members impacted by the tragic attack”.
The two explosive devices that Jabbar placed were recovered by federal officials undetonated. ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson credited New Orleans police for responding quickly before the devices could be set off. He said both were equipped with receivers and a transmitter was recovered in Jabbar’s truck.

Jabbar exited the crashed truck wearing a ballistic vest and helmet and fired at police, wounding at least two officers before he was fatally shot.
Bomb-making materials were found at Jabbar’s home. Jackson said Jabbar appeared to have used a chemical compound known as RDX, which he said is commonly available in the US. He said field tests found RDX at Jabbar’s Houston home and they are conducting further tests on similar materials found at the New Orleans rental home.
Jabbar tried to burn down the rental house by setting a small fire in a hallway but the flames went out before firefighters arrived.
Jabbar proclaimed support for the Islamic State militant group in online videos posted hours before he struck. It was the deadliest Isis-inspired assault on US soil in years, laying bare what federal officials have warned is a resurgent international terrorism threat.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos that the country faces “not only the persistent threat of foreign terrorism” but “a significant increase in what we term home-grown violent extremism” in recent years.
The attack has prompted security concerns elsewhere in the nation. In California, for instance, military officials announced via online platform X that access has been tightened to Camp Pendleton, the largest Marine base on the West Coast with tens of thousands of active-duty service members.
The announcement said all IDs are being checked for base entry, a “trusted travel programme” is being suspended and random inspections will be carried out.


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United States

New Orleans attacker wore Meta smart glasses for reconnaissance, FBI says

Shamsud-Din Jabbar recording himself in a mirror with his Meta glasses before the New Orleans attack. Photo: FBI

Video surveillance still images of Shamsud-Din Jabbar on the night of the attack. Photo: FBI

The white truck that was used in the New Orleans attack, and an Isis flag on the ground (top right). Photo: AFP

FBI says New Orleans truck attacker acted alone, was ‘100% inspired’ by Isis

A surveillance image shows Shamsud-Din Jabbar an hour before he drove a truck down Bourbon Street, New Orleans. Photo: FBI via AP

Federal agents walk along Bourbon Street after it reopened to the public following the truck attack. Photo: AFP

Video surveillance still images of Shamsud-Din Jabbar before he drove a truck into a crowd in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: FBI via Reuters

A man pays tribute at a makeshift memorial. Photo: Reuters

From US Army to Isis: FBI seeks clues into New Orleans attacker’s radicalisation

Shamsud-Din Jabbar served in the US Army as a human resources specialist and an IT specialist from 2007 to 2015, and then in the Army Reserve until 2020. File photo: Facebook via Reuters

Video surveillance still images of Shamsud-Din Jabbar before he drove a truck into a crowd in New Orleans. Photo: FBI via Reuters

Debris along Bourbon Street, New Orleans after the truck attack. Photo: Geoff Burke/USA Today Network via Reuters

Prince William ‘saddened’ at death of former nanny’s stepson in New Orleans truck attack

Edward Pettifer, stepson of Prince William and Prince Harry’s nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke, died in the New Year truck attack in New Orleans. Photo: Metropolitan Police / Handout via Reuters

Royal nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke with Prince William, Prince Harry and Prince Charles at Zurich Airport in 1994. Photo: UK Press via Getty Images

New Orleans truck attack suspect served in US Army, was ‘born and raised’ in Texas

A black flag with white lettering lies rolled up on the ground behind a pickup truck was driven into a crowd in New Orleans on Wednesday. Photo: AP

An undated passport photo of Shamsud-Din Jabbar. Photo: FBI via Reuters

New Orleans attack, Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion raise US security fears

The FBI probing the deadly New Orleans truck-ramming and whether terrorism is behind Tesla truck explosion in Las Vegas. Photos: Reuters

Debris is left along Bourbon Street after a pickup truck was driven into a large crowd in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Photo: Geoff Burke/USA Today Network via Reuters

Flames rise from the Tesla Cybertruck after it exploded in Las Vegas. Photo: Alcides Antunes via Reuters

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World

United States & Canada

Shamsud-Din Jabbar, who killed 14 people in the New Year’s Day attack, made two trips to New Orleans in October and November


Shamsud-Din Jabbar, who killed 14 people in the New Year’s Day attack, made two trips to New Orleans in October and November.
