Federal investigators found bomb-making materials at the Texas home of Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the man responsible for the deadly truck attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Jabbar, 42, was from Houston, Texas, and used a rented pickup truck to drive to New Orleans on New Year’s Day. He ran into a crowd, killing 14 people and injuring dozens before being shot dead by police. This attack is being treated as an act of terrorism.
The investigators found chemicals, filters, and other materials used to make explosives in Jabbar’s Houston home. They also discovered precursor chemicals for powerful explosives. Law enforcement has not revealed all the specifics of the materials found, but they did confirm the presence of items commonly used to make homemade high explosives.
Jabbar had also planted two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on Bourbon Street before the attack. These devices, which were found in coolers, were active but were safely disabled by law enforcement. The bombs were said to contain shrapnel, including nails and screws. During the attack, Jabbar wore body armor and carried two weapons: an AR-15 style rifle and a handgun.
The FBI also searched the Airbnb where Jabbar had stayed in New Orleans. They found materials that raised concerns and detonated them on Wednesday afternoon. The building had caught fire earlier that morning, and authorities believe Jabbar may have intentionally set the fire to destroy evidence of his crime. The fire was small and did not spread to other rooms.
The FBI confirmed that there is no evidence Jabbar had accomplices or was directed by a terrorist group. However, the attack was inspired by ISIS. Jabbar had posted videos expressing his support for the terrorist group before the attack and had an ISIS flag attached to his truck. Federal agencies also warned that similar attacks, using vehicles and explosives, are encouraged by ISIS and could lead to copycat attacks.
