A horrific terrorist attack in the historic French Quarter of New Orleans on New Year’s Day killed 14 and left dozens more seriously injured. The assault by 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar has confronted the city with deep despair and raised again concerns about security.
It is at the packed Bourbon Street crowds celebrating New Year’s that Jabbar, who is a U.S. Army veteran rammed a rented Ford F-150 pickup truck.
His spree was deliberate, killing several and injuring others before he was fatally shot by police on the scene. It was later found that Jabbar had planted IEDs in the vicinity which did not explode because of a technical failure. It was a failure that prevented what could have been an even greater tragedy.
The FBI said Jabbar had planned the attack in two reconnaissance trips in October and November 2024. Wearing Meta smart glasses – high-tech eyewear that looks like regular glasses but is fitted with surreptitious cameras and livestreaming abilities – Jabbar filmed detailed videos of Bourbon Street while bicycling through the French Quarter.
The inconspicuous design of the Meta smart glasses allowed Jabbar to gather intelligence on crowded intersections and potential targets without arousing suspicion. Together with other means of surveillance that he had been using, including his mobile phone and online research, the glasses were key in planning.
At least 14 people were killed and about 35 injured in the violence. Witnesses and survivors recounted scenes of terror and despair as rescuers toiled deep into the night in efforts to save lives. “It was chaos – people were running everywhere,” said a local shop owner. “I can’t believe something like this happened in our city.”
Vigils across the French Quarter lit up the city of New Orleans in mourning. Mayor LaToya Cantrell vowed support to affected families and promised more stringent security measures in the city: “We will not let acts of hate define our community.
Extensive investigations by the FBI uncovered a treasure trove of evidence that turned the searchlight on Jabbar’s intent and linkages: his Meta smart glasses, surveillance videos of reconnaissance, and unexploded dynamite containing an extremely rare component never seen anywhere in the US or Europe.
Authorities have linked Jabbar to ISIS, pointing out that he had pledged allegiance online to the terror group and an ISIS flag was found in his vehicle. Jabbar, who served in the U.S. Army from 2007 to 2015 and later in the Army Reserve, had IT expertise and reportedly was radicalized online. His 2023 travels to Egypt and Canada are under scrutiny for possible connections to extremist networks.
The present tragedy once again puts the spotlight on the misuse of new and modern technology in surreptitious surveillance and terrorism. The discreet nature of such spyware devices, as in the case of Meta smart glasses, becomes a huge obstacle in cracking them down for law enforcement agencies. “We are basically facing a different era where your daily technology can become a weapon.” an FBI spokesperson. As the investigation unfolds, New Orleans is intent on healing, standing united. The community leaders have rallied, impressing upon their citizens the need to be vigilant and determined as one people in response to such actions. “Our city has been through so much, but we always come together,” said a resident who was present at a memorial service.
