A tragic incident occurred in New Orleans, where a US Army veteran, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, drove a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year revelers, leading to at least 15 deaths on the spot and 35 injured. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has started to look into the incident after the discovery of an ISIS flag that has been found in Jabbar’s vehicle, suggesting possible affiliations with the terrorist organization.
The FBI said the accused was killed in an exchange of gunfire on the spot. Eyewitnesses describe the scene as chaotic and compared it with a war zone, prompting strong reactions from political leaders domestically and international figures, condemning the violence.
The incident: how it happened:
The suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was a US Army veteran with a background in logistics and IT. He posted some social media posts, just hours before the deadly attack, showcasing his allegiance to ISIS radicalization and a deeper planning that was going on in his mind.
The attack occurred amidst strong security in New Orleans, with over 300 police officers on duty during the festivities, which coincided with other significant events like the Sugar Bowl football game.
CCTV footage revealed Jabbar driving his rented White Ford truck through Bourbon Street during a crowded New Year’s celebration. He allegedly began the attack by attempting to run over as many individuals as possible in the way.
Jabbar engaged in a shootout with police officers after the attack, which resulted in the wounding of two officers and him being killed. The police have also discovered, along with the ISIS flag, three improvised pipe bombs and a long gun at the scene, suggesting planning and potential assistance from others that describe the attack as intentional and aimed at maximizing harm to the civilians present.
After the attack, some eyewitnesses explained the scene as horrific, with people being thrown into the air by the strong impact from the truck.
Growing radicalization & extremism in military veterans:
Military veterans often face multifaceted challenges during their transition to a not-so-common civilian life, like social isolation, financial instability, and mental health struggles. The majority of them lead a happy and well-satisfied life after their retirement, but a few find themselves inclined towards extremist and radical figures.
The New Orleans attack magnifies the importance of understanding the signs of potential radicalization among veterans and the need to address the root causes that pose a serious threat to civilian life and property.
Some key factors play a very serious and decisive role in procuring such incidents, which are:
- Posting extremist content or expressing violent ideologies online, as seen in the case of Shamsud-Din Jabbar, who shared videos pledging allegiance to ISIS shortly before the conclusion of the attack.
- Relationship problems, feelings of hopelessness, anger, etc., are some of the factors that often motivate veterans to take such extreme steps. Jabbar has faced financial difficulties and had been divorced twice, which may have ignited his ideological shift.
- Veterans may have skills and experiences that can be exploited by extremist groups. Jabbar’s military training and experience could have provided him with the means to carry out a violent attack.
Potential involvement with others who share extremist views or sympathies towards extremist organizations who may assist in planning attacks, which in Jabbar’s case included the presence of an ISIS flag in his vehicle.
Jabbar reportedly stated intentions to commit violence when he, in a video, claimed that he was planning to murder his own family.
The government should explore key indicators and the role of support systems in mitigating the risks of radicalization within this community, as recognizing these signs early can be crucial for intervention and prevention efforts.
President Joe Biden confirmed that the FBI briefed him about the attack and Jabbar’s violent intentions. President-elect Donald Trump addressed the incident, attributing it to illegal immigration. International leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Zelensky issued statements expressing condolences and condemning terrorism.
