UPDATE: Shamsud Din Jabbar identified as New Orleans terrorist, ISIS fla

Shamsud Din Jabbar, the terrorist from the ramming attack — Photo: FBI released photo

Jabbar, dressed in camouflage and body armor, opened fire on the crowd before engaging in a gun battle with law enforcement. He was armed with a Glock handgun and a stolen .308 rifle. In addition, four or five other individuals may have been involved in the attack.

Following the explosion, authorities discovered several suspicious packages along Bourbon Street, which were detonated as part of an investigation into improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Although there have been reports that the truck used in the attack was rigged with explosives, official confirmation is still pending.

While initial reports suggested that the vehicle entered the U.S. from Mexico prior to the attack, this claim has been retracted. The truck was rented through the app Turo, adding further complexity to the investigation. Authorities also recovered an ISIS flag from Jabbar’s vehicle, raising concerns about potential links to international terrorism.

The FBI’s investigation is ongoing, with agents focusing on Jabbar’s military background, potential extremist affiliations, and any communications with terrorist organizations. A call for jihadists to target U.S. and European New Year’s celebrations had recently appeared on an extremist Telegram channel, adding to the urgency of the inquiry.

President Joe Biden has condemned the attack as an act of terrorism, expressing his condolences for the victims and their families. The FBI is leading the investigation, and a digital tip line has been established to gather information from the public.

Surveillance footage has also reportedly shown three men and a woman planting explosives along Bourbon Street ahead of the attack. A manhunt for these additional suspects is underway.

In response to the terror attack, the Superdome in New Orleans, where the Sugar Bowl was scheduled to take place, was put on lockdown for security sweeps. The event has been postponed due to the heightened security concerns.