Man visited New Orleans twice before New Year's truck attack - FBI

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.

Shamsud-Din Jabbar 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. Federal officials believe Jabbar, a US citizen and former US Army soldier, was inspired by the the Islamic State militant group to carry out the deadly attack.

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 in carrying out the attack, but are continuing to explore his contacts.

"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 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.

"Our agents are getting answers to where he went, who he met with and how those trips may or may not tie into his actions here," Myrthil said.

Jabbar had also travelled to New Orleans twice in the months ahead of the attack, first in October and again in November. On October 31, Myrthil said Jabbar used "meta glasses" to record video as he rode through the French Quarter on a bicycle as "he plotted this hideous attack". He said Jabbar was also in New Orleans on November 10 and they are trying to find out more detail about that trip.

He also wore the glasses during the attack. The glasses are capable of livestreaming, but Myrthil said Jabbar did not activate the glasses to livestream the attack.

The FBI released Jabbar's recorded video from the planning trip to New Orleans as well as video showing him placing two containers with explosive devices in the French Quarter at around 2am shortly before the attack. One of the containers, a cooler, was moved a block away by someone uninvolved with the attack, officials said.

Joshua Jackson, New Orleans special agent in charge, said Jabbar privately purchased a semiautomatic rifle from an individual in Arlington, Texas, on November 19.

"This was a chance encounter," Jackson said. "There's no way this individual knew that Jabbar was radicalised or had any sort of awareness that this attack was imminent."