The individual responsible for the New Orleans attack visited the city on at least two occasions in the months leading up to the incident, FBI Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil revealed during a Sunday update.
Authorities identified the attacker, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, as the man fatally shot by police following the deadly New Year’s Day assault on Bourbon Street. Myrthil stated that Jabbar had traveled to New Orleans in late October and again in November.
During his initial visit, beginning October 30, Jabbar stayed at a rental property for at least two days. While in the city, he used Meta glasses to record video footage of the French Quarter, cycling through the neighborhood to capture the area.
The FBI shared clips of Jabbar wearing the glasses during this trip and urged anyone who interacted with him during that time to reach out with information.
“Meta glasses resemble standard eyewear but enable users to record photos and videos hands-free. They also have the capability to live stream,” Myrthil explained, adding that Jabbar was wearing the glasses during the attack, though he did not broadcast footage of the event.
Jabbar’s second visit to New Orleans occurred on November 10, but Myrthil mentioned that agents are still piecing together the specifics of this trip.
In addition to his domestic travels, Jabbar journeyed internationally. He visited Cairo, Egypt, from June 22 to July 3, 2023, and shortly afterward traveled to Ontario, Canada, on July 10, returning to the U.S. by July 13.
“Our team is working to determine the purpose of these trips, who Jabbar interacted with, and whether they have any connection to his actions in New Orleans,” Myrthil said.
Authorities maintain that Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Houston, acted independently in carrying out the attack that claimed 14 lives on New Year’s Day.
“All evidence and investigative details point to Jabbar acting alone in New Orleans,” said FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia of the counterterrorism division. “Thus far, we have found no indications of an accomplice within the United States, though we continue to explore potential associates both domestically and internationally.”
“In any intricate terrorism investigation, new leads, public tips, electronic device analysis, and witness interviews help us piece together a clearer narrative,” Raia added. “We’ve made significant progress over the past two days and are steadily building a more comprehensive profile of Jabbar and his actions.”
