As the investigation continues in the New Year’s Day suspected terrorist attack in New Orleans, FBI Deputy Assistant Director of Counter Terrorism Christopher Raia says 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar acted alone, and there is “not” an active threat at this time: “We do not assess, at this point, that anyone else involved in this attack, is involved in this attack, except for Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the subject you’ve already been briefed on.” Raia concluded that Jabbar was “100% inspired” by the Islamic State group.
State and local officials are reassuring New Orleans residents that the city is safe - following Wednesday’s suspected terrorist attack. At a news conference on Thursday, Governor Jeff Landry called the number of law enforcement officers around the city unprecedented. “Something may change again. Here's what I do know, though. Right now, this is one of the safest places on Earth.” As part of the security effort, Governor Landry mobilized a 100-member military police company from the Louisiana National Guard to New Orleans.
At least 14 people died, along with Jabbar, while dozens more are still recovering from injuries at nearby hospitals. As Louisiana Public Radio and NPR report, U.S. Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana and New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter are speaking out about the terror attack. Sen. Kennedy says he’s dumbfounded as to why anyone would do such a heinous thing. “I wish I understood better why bad things happen to good people. If I make it to heaven I’m going to ask.” And Congressman Carter added that “no stone will go unturned"’ in the investigation.
The tragedy on Bourbon Street is already reigniting talk about turning that street into a permanent pedestrian mall. New Orleans Councilman J.P. Morrell says that conversation will now be taking place very soon. “There was a lot of pushback at the time about that. A lot of businesses were very concerned about it. We’ve always known that Bourbon Street is a soft target. Substantial things are going to have to change with the way we deal with the French Quarter.” Morrell says whatever security measures had been in place to protect the people visiting the French Quarter have proven to be ineffective.
In a little more than a month from now, New Orleans will be hosting Super Bowl LIX. The event was already designated as a Homeland Security event, with law enforcement being beefed up. Councilman Morrell says that’s the way it’s going to be moving forward, for other major events, like Mardi Gras.
FBI: New Orleans Attacker “100%” Inspired by Islamic State Group
