FBI says man responsible for New Year truck attack visited New Orleans twice before

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 hands-free glasses, an FBI official said on Sunday.

Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a US citizen from Houston, also travelled to Cairo, Egypt, as well as Ontario, 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 press conference.

The attack early on Wednesday was carried out by Jabbar, a former US Army soldier, from Houston. Police fatally shot Jabbar, 42, during a firefight at the scene of the deadly crash on Bourbon Street, famous worldwide for its festive vibes in New Orleans’ historic French Quarter.

Federal investigators so far believe Jabbar acted alone.

“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 (Federal Bureau of Investigation) special agent in charge of the New Orleans Field Office, said the suspect in the attack travelled to Cairo in the summer of 2023 and then to Canada a few days later.