The person behind the New Orleans assault visited the town no less than twice within the months earlier than the assault, FBI Particular Agent in Cost Lyonel Myrthil mentioned in an replace on Sunday.
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, who was recognized as the person shot and killed by police after the lethal New 12 months’s Day assault on Bourbon Road, traveled to New Orleans in late October and in November.
Throughout his first journey, Jabbar stayed at a rental house for no less than two days starting on Oct. 30, Myrthil mentioned. Whereas in New Orleans, Jabbar used Meta glasses to file video of the French Quarter as he rode on a motorcycle via the neighborhood.
The FBI confirmed video of Jabbar on the journey along with his glasses and inspired the general public to contact them in the event that they noticed or interacted with him on that journey.
“Meta glasses appear to look like regular glasses, but they allow the user to record photos and videos hands-free. They also allow the user to potentially livestream their video,” Myrthil mentioned on the briefing, including that Jabbar was sporting the glasses in the course of the assault however didn’t livestream footage from that day.
The second journey to New Orleans, Myrthil mentioned, came about on Nov. 10, however FBI officers “are still piecing together details of that trip.”
Jabbar additionally traveled to Cairo, Egypt, from June 22 to July 3 of 2023, and, just a few days later, he flew to Ontario, Canada on July 10, returning to the U.S. on July 13.
“Our agents are getting answers as to where he went, who he met with, and how those trips may or may not tie into his actions here in New Orleans,” Myrthil mentioned on the briefing.
Officers nonetheless say Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Houston, acted alone when he killed 14 folks early on New 12 months’s Day.
“All investigative details and evidence that we have now still support Jabbar acted alone in New Orleans. We have not seen any indications of an accomplice in the United States, but we are still looking into potential associates in the U.S. and outside our borders,” mentioned FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia of the counterterrorism division.
“In any complex terrorism investigation, as we uncover new leads, receive tips from the public, examine electronic devices, and interview witnesses, the information as we know it evolves into a clearer picture and provides more answers,” he continued. “We are much further along than we were just two days ago and continue to develop a more detailed picture of exactly who Jabbar was.”
