'100% inspired by ISIS': A timeline of driver's movements before New Orleans attack
WASHINGTON ― The Federal Bureau of Investigation said Thursday the suspect who carried out the New Orleans attack , Shamsud-Din Jabbar, traveled from Houston on New Year's Eve before intentionally slamming his pickup truck into pedestrians on Bourbon Street early New Year's Day morning.
Christopher Raia, deputy assistant FBI director, said the FBI believes Jabbar acted alone to execute a premeditated "act of terrorism." Fourteen people were killed and about 30 others were injured in the attack. Police fatally shot Jabbar after he opened fire on officers.
Raia said the FBI has "no definitive link" between the New Orleans attack and the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck parked outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas . The investigations into both cases are ongoing.
More: 'An evil act': New Orleans driver believed to be a lone wolf, FBI says. Live updates
Jabbar, a 42-year-old military veteran and U.S. citizen who lived in Houston, was "100% inspired by ISIS," Raia said, referring to the Islamic State terrorist organization known as ISIS.
Here is a timeline of Jabbar's movements leading up to the attack according to the FBI, which has received more than 400 tips regarding the New Orleans attack:
Truck picked up in Houston
Jabbar on Monday, Dec. 30 picked up a rented white Ford F-150 in Houston ‒ the same truck he would later use to ram into people on Bourbon Street, a famous strip in New Orleans' French Quarter and the heart of the city's night-life scene.
Drives from Houston to New Orleans
Raia said Jabbar drove from Houston to New Orleans on Tuesday, Dec. 31.
Pro-ISIS videos posted ahead of attack
Jabbar posted five videos on an online platform "proclaiming his support for ISIS" between 1:29 a.m. CT and 3:02 a.m. CT, according to Raia.
More: Heartbreaking losses: Here are the victims of the New Orleans truck attack
Suspect said he intended to harm family
In one of the videos, according to the FBI, Jabbar said he originally planned to harm his family and friends, but was concerned the news headlines would not focus on "the war between the believers and disbelievers."
Jabbar also stated in the video that he joined ISIS before this past summer and provided a will and testament.
Attack carried out
On New Year's Day morning, around 3:15 a.m. CT, Jabbar drove his truck onto a blocked off section of Bourbon Street at Canal Street, opening fire after driving over victims.
Jabbar's truck contained an ISIS flag. He was fatally shot by police at the scene.
FBI searching New Orleans house
Raia said the FBI is searching a home linked to Jabbar on Mandeville Street in New Orleans, where authorities responded to a fire early Wednesday morning.
Joshua Jackson, special agent in charge of the New Orleans ATF field office, said the ATF is reviewing how the fire started.
FBI reviewing 3 phones, 2 laptops linked to Jabbar
Raia said the FBI recovered three phones and two laptop computers linked to Jabbar. He said authorities are reviewing the devices for potential leads. The laptops were recovered at the Mandeville address.
2 explosive devices recovered
Law enforcement recovered two explosive devices in coolers near the scene ‒ one at the cross-section of Bourbon and Orleans streets and another at an intersection approximately two blocks away.
The FBI obtained video surveillance footage of Jabbar placing the devices where they were found, Raia said.
"There were multiple reports of other devices," Raia said. "Those reports turned out to be misinformation ‒ not actual functioning devices."
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Details on Shamsud-Din Jabbar's movements before New Orleans attack
