New Orleans Terror Attack Identifies Shamsuddin Jabbar as Attacker, Linked to Beaumont, Texas
By: Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada
Houston, Texas: The perpetrator of the deadly attack on New Orleans’ famous Bourbon Street has been identified as Shamsuddin Jabbar, a 42-year-old American citizen and resident of Houston, Texas. According to the FBI, Jabbar, a former U.S. Army soldier, carried out the attack allegedly inspired by the terrorist organization ISIS.
The attack occurred on New Year’s Eve at 3:15 AM Wednesday, when Jabbar used a pickup truck to breach barricades and plow into a crowd. The incident claimed the lives of 15 people and left dozens injured. Jabbar exited the truck and opened fire on law enforcement officers, injuring two officers in the process. The attacker was killed on the spot in a police counter-operation.
Shamsuddin Jabbar resided in Houston, Texas, and had previously served in the U.S. Army as an IT specialist. He was deployed to Afghanistan between 2009 and 2010 and remained part of the Army Reserve from 2015 to 2020.
Jabbar completed a BBA in Computer Information Systems from Georgia State University in 2017. He once worked at Deloitte, earning an annual salary of approximately $125,000. However, court documents revealed that he faced financial struggles, including over $40,000 in credit card debt.
Jabbar was married three times, with his third marriage ending in divorce in 2022. Court records indicate he faced ongoing financial disputes with his ex-wives, particularly regarding child support.
The FBI has categorized this incident as “an act of terrorism.” Weapons and potential IEDs were recovered from the truck used in the attack. A flag associated with ISIS was also discovered at the scene, and Jabbar had posted videos on social media just hours before the attack, expressing his intentions.
FBI and Homeland Security officials are investigating the possibility of other individuals being involved in the attack. According to Louisiana’s Attorney General, evidence suggests the involvement of additional suspects, particularly in relation to the timing and placement of the IEDs.
The Houston community has been left in shock by this news. That Shamsuddin Jabbar, a well-educated individual and former soldier, could be involved in such an act was beyond anyone’s imagination.
