The2025 New Orleans truck attack was anIslamic terrorist attack that occurred on January 1, 2025, at around 3:15 a.m.CST (UTC–6), when Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-oldMuslim American man,rammed apickup truck into a crowd onBourbon Street inNew Orleans, Louisiana, then exited the truck and engaged in a shootout with police before being fatally shot. Fourteen victims were killed, plus the perpetrator, and at least fifty-seven others were injured, including two police officers who were shot. The attack occurred duringNew Year celebrations in the city, which was scheduled to host the2025 Sugar Bowl later that day.
The assailant, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was an American-born resident ofHouston, Texas. AnIslamic State (ISIS) flag was found in the truck. TheFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) determined that Jabbar had been inspired by ISIS. It investigated the matter asdomestic terrorism, since there was no evidence of any foreign direction behind the attack. Jabbar, who had beenradicalized, posted videospledging his allegiance to ISIS in the hours before the attack.
Federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies had warned local police agencies about potentialvehicle-ramming attacks before the holidays.[1][2] In a 2017 memo, the city government also noted the risks of amass casualty incident, including from a vehicle attack in theFrench Quarter, and it had plans to increase security in the area.[3] In that same year, the city government acquired a set of L-shaped temporary Archer vehicle barriers from Meridian Rapid Defense Group and used them to help secure thecity's Mardi Gras parade against vehicle attacks.[4] The city spent $250,000 to purchase a set of 45 Archer barriers.[5]
American officials were concerned about the potential forlone wolf attacks and efforts by theIslamic State's Khorasan branch to recruit new members by spreading propaganda online and radicalizing vulnerable populations.[6]
The New Year celebrations in the city included parties on Bourbon Street and a parade for the2025 Sugar Bowl, one of New Orleans's major sporting events, which was scheduled to take place on the night of January 1 atCaesars Superdome between theGeorgia Bulldogs and theNotre Dame Fighting Irish. Law enforcement had increased security in preparation for these events, including the use of drones in the French Quarter.[6][7]
After exiting traffic, the perpetrator, Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, drove the truck onto thesidewalk to bypass a police SUV and other barricades that had been placed to protect Bourbon Street.[8] Eyewitnesses reported that steel barricades installed to prevent vehicular access were not raised before the attack, thoughNew Orleans Police Department superintendentAnne Kirkpatrick said that police were aware they malfunctioned sometimes and instead used other barricades.[6] Jabbar drove into people along a three-block stretch between Canal and Conti streets.[9] Kirkpatrick stated the suspect was "trying to run over as many people as he possibly could".[6]
After crashing into anaerial work platform,[10] Jabbar exited the truck and began shooting a gun. New Orleans police officers returned fire[10] and killed Jabbar in the shootout by shooting him four times in the torso.[11] Jabbar wounded two police officers in the gunfight.[10][11]
The New Orleans PD, along with Mayor Cantrell, described the incident as a terrorist attack.[2][21]Jason Williams, the district attorney forOrleans Parish, said that "driving a vehicle into a crowd is not particularly a thing that any law enforcement agency can be prepared for".[22]
The city had previously deployed permanent vehicle barriers known as bollards to stop cars from entering the French Quarter, but they had frequently malfunctioned.[8][22] The bollards were removed and were being replaced in advance of the upcoming Sugar Bowl when the attack occurred.[8][22] The city still had temporary Archer vehicle barriers acquired back in 2017 but did not deploy them until after the attack had already occurred.[4] Kirkpatrick was unaware that the city had them until after the attack.[4]
Fourteen people, excluding the suspect, were killed.[23] All of the deceased victims died of blunt force injuries.[24] At least fifty-seven others were injured,[25] including three people and two New Orleans police officers who were shot in a shootout.[26][27] Immediately after the attack, emergency personnel took thirty of the wounded to five area hospitals, while other injured sought hospital care on their own.[28][1]Mexico's foreign ministry reported that twoMexican nationals were injured in the attack.[1][29]Israel's foreign ministry said twoIsraeli citizens were wounded in the attack.[1][30]
By January 5, the names of all fourteen deceased victims were released.[33][34] There were eleven men and three women, ranging in age from 18 to 63. All were killed by blunt force injuries.[34][35] Two were local to New Orleans: LaTasha Polk, 47, and 63-year-old Terrence Kennedy. Six further fatalities resided in Louisiana: Kareem Badawi, 18; Hubert Gauthreaux, 21; Reggie Hunter, 37; Nicole Perez, 27; Brandon Taylor, 43; and Elliot Wilkinson, 40. Martin "Tiger" Bech, 27, was a native of Louisiana but resided inNew York City and brother ofJack Bech.[36] All but one of the remaining victims were from elsewhere in the United States: Andrew Dauphin, 26; Nikyra Dedeaux, 18; William DiMaio, 25; and Matthew Tenedorio, 25.[37][34][36] The final victim was British national Edward Pettifer, 31, fromChelsea, London, the stepson ofAlexandra "Tiggy" Pettifer, a former nanny of the princesWilliam andHarry.[38]
Many hotels in the area were evacuated,[1] andhospitality andservice workers reporting for work later that morning were turned away from the area.[10] The 2025 Sugar Bowl, which is part of the2024–25 College Football Playoff, was to be played at Caesars Superdome betweenNotre Dame andGeorgia at 7:45 p.m. CST on January 1; after the attack, it was postponed to 3 p.m. CST the following day due to ongoing security sweeps.[1][6][40] Security for the game was tightened, and the game went on without any incident. Local organizers said they would review security procedures forSuper Bowl LIX to be held in New Orleans in February 2025.[41]
TheNew Orleans City Hall building was closed to the public on January 2 to reduce traffic.[6] A moment of silence honoring the victims of the attack was held before the start of theSugar Bowl.[42] The victims, as well as first responders, were also honored before the kickoff of Super Bowl LIX.[43]
The assailant,Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar (October 26, 1982[45] – January 1, 2025),[46] was 42 years old[47][48] and absent from allfederal watchlists.[12] He was born and raised inBeaumont, Texas, a city located 85 miles (137 km) east of Houston.[49] At the time of the attack, he lived in a Houston neighborhood in northernHarris County. Although raised as a Christian, Jabbarconverted to Islam and was a Muslim for most of his life.
Jabbar came from anAfrican American family that predominantly attended the localBaptist church. His father, a convert to Islam born in Houston, changed his surname from Young to Jabbar; his mother remained a Christian.[47][50] His grandfather moved from Louisiana to Texas as part of a migration ofCreoles of color to the Beaumont area for work.[51][50] Jabbar was arrested in 2002 inKaty formisdemeanor theft and was arrested in 2005 for driving with an invalid license.[51][52] In 2014, he pleaded guilty todriving under the influence while serving atFort Bragg in North Carolina.[52]
Jabbar was divorced three times and had financial problems. His first marriage ended in divorce in 2012, he married again (2013 to 2016), and finally a third time (2017 to 2022). He secured a job atDeloitte in 2021[48] as a "senior solutions specialist" in government and public services with a yearly salary of $120,000, a quarter of which was spent inalimony and child support. The husband of one of his ex-wives said that Jabbar had been behaving unpredictably in the months before the attack, seemingly motivated by his religious views, and the couple decided to limit Jabbar's contact with their children.[47]
In 2024, Jabbar moved to a Muslim community north of Houston, where he isolated himself, and started publishing recordings toSoundCloud, in which he espoused conservative religious views. In the recordings, Jabbarcondemned music as a gateway "into the things thatGod had made forbidden to us" such as alcohol and marijuana. In an early 2024 recording, he said that "the voice ofSatan spreading among Prophet Muhammad's followers [...] is asign of the end times." He was not seen attending either of the two nearby mosques[47] and was not a formal member of any of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston's 21 congregations.[55] It is unclear exactly what factors influenced Jabbar'sradicalization, although investigators said that his views became significantly more extreme after the beginning of theGaza war in 2023.[47] Jabbar traveled alone toCairo, Egypt in late-June 2023, spending eleven days in the country, followed by a three-day stay inOntario in mid-July; U.S. investigators are probing what Jabbar did while abroad.[56][57]
In videos posted to Facebook between 1:29 and 3:02a.m.—minutes before the truck attack—Jabbar pledged allegiance (bay'at) to ISIS. He said he wanted his act to highlight the "war between the believers andthe disbelievers"[47][58] and that he had considered organizing a family "celebration" where he would have them "witness the killing of the apostates."[47]
The FBI said it was confident that Jabbar acted alone.[59] While Jabbar took violent inspiration from ISIS, investigators have not found evidence he had received any direct contact or direction from the terrorist group.[60] Possible self-radicalization reflects a pattern seen in previousjihadist attacks.[61]
The FBI is leading the investigation of the attack and has opened a tip line.[19] Investigators found twopipe bombs insidecoolers on Bourbon Street a few blocks from the attack. The devices were rigged for detonation, and connected to a wireless remote found in the truck.[28][9] The bombs were reportedly rudimentary and rigged with shrapnel, such as nails, screws and tacks.[62] The bombs were also meant to be detonated with anelectric match and consisted ofRDX. The FBI described Jabbar's bombs as "crude" and made with a "lack of experience" due to his choice of not using adetonator for his RDX bombs.[63]
A handgun and a long gun with a homemade suppressor were also found at the scene.[23] Law enforcement is investigating whether Jabbar illegally acquired the weapons.[62] TheBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, theDepartment of Homeland Security, and prosecutors for theNational Security Division and thelocal federal prosecutor's office are assisting in the investigation.[1][6] After an urgent search by the ATF, it is concluded that the rifle was obtained legally through a transaction with an individual inArlington, Texas on November 19, 2024. The origins of the handgun are still under investigation.[63] The FBI has inquired as to whether Jabbar was connected to or inspired by a foreign terrorist organization;[23] Jabbar discussed theIslamic State (IS), his divorce and a desire to kill his family in videos he recorded while driving from Texas to New Orleans.[2][64] Jabbar posted five videos on his Facebook account between 1:29 a.m. and 3:02 a.m. before initiating his attack at around 3:15 a.m.[65] The FBI said that apparentexplosive devices were found elsewhere in the French Quarter; authorities believed those may have been placed by someone other than the driver,[1][6] but the FBI later confirmed that Jabbar acted alone.[6] On January 3, the FBI seized material for making explosives while raiding Jabbar's home in Houston.[6] Later, the FBI stated that Jabbar was wearingMeta smart glasses when he started the attack at 3:15 a.m., but did not record the attack or attempt to livestream it.[66]
The FBI said that Jabbar was "100% inspired by ISIS" and that it was a premeditated act of terrorism.[59][58] On January 4, the deputy assistant director of the FBI's counterintelligence division said that investigators "do not assess at this point that anyone else is involved in this attack except Shamsud-Din Jabbar."[62] Initially, investigators believed that Jabbar had accomplices,[67] based on New Orleans police's initial review of surveillance video, in which several people stood near potential explosive devices.[2] However, after reviewing the videos further, investigators concluded that Jabbar himself planted the improvised bombs, and that the people later seen standing near them were not connected "in any way" to Jabbar's attack.[59][68]
A fire broke out the same day of the attack at anAirbnb in theSt. Roch neighborhood, which investigators believe Jabbar rented.[69] The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said that it believes Jabbar attempted to destroy evidence of his crimes by setting a small fire in the hallway of his house, and by placing accelerants in multiple rooms, but that the fire burned itself out before spreading and reaching accelerants in the house.[66][70] TheNew Orleans Fire Department extinguished the fire preventing significant damage to the building and allowing investigators to seize explosive making materials and other evidence left behind by Jabbar.[66]
The same day, at approximately 8:39a.m., aTesla Cybertruck exploded and caught fire outside of theTrump International Hotel Las Vegas inParadise, Nevada, killing the perpetrator and injuring seven other people.[71][72] The perpetrator of the Las Vegas explosion rented it from the Turo app like Jabbar and both reportedly served at the same military base.[71][73] The FBI stated that there is "no definitive link" between the New Orleans truck attack and the Las Vegas explosion.[65]
During a law enforcement raid of Jabbar's house inNorth Houston, a man surrendered and was taken into custody.[74]
Troy Carter, who representsalmost all of New Orleans in the U.S. House, said the attack was an "unspeakable act of violence" and commended theNew Orleans Police Department for their work.[77]Bill Cassidy, Louisiana's senior U.S. senator, called the attack "so tragic" and offered thanks to responding officers.[78] Louisiana governorJeff Landry expressed condolences to the victims of the attack and urged people to avoid the area.[79]John Kennedy, Louisiana's junior U.S. senator, described the attacks as "objective evil".[80]
Just hours after the incident, Landry posted a photo of himself smiling and giving a thumbs-up with his wife and others outside a steakhouse in the city. He captioned the photo: "Ate dinner tonight in New Orleans. Proud to be a part of this incredibly resilient city. See everyone at the game tomorrow!" Social media users criticized Landry's response.[81] In response to the criticism, Landry replied: "It's important to understand that we have many visitors in the city of New Orleans right now. Safety is our top priority, and we want our guests and the world to know that Louisiana does not cower to radical Islamic terrorists. Our restaurants and all that New Orleans has to offer remain open for business!"[82]
Louisiana GovernorJeff Landry, Homeland Security SecretaryKristi Noem, and New Orleans MayorLaToya Cantrell at the Bourbon Street memorial, 3 February 2025
Jeff Hundley, the director of the committee that organizes the Sugar Bowl, said the committee was devastated by the terror attack.[1] TheUniversity of Georgia Athletic Association said they were "deeply saddened by the senseless violence that occurred in New Orleans", andUniversity of Notre Dame presidentRobert A. Dowd said that "[our] prayers are with the family members and loved ones of all those impacted by the terrible attack in New Orleans early this morning".[6] UGA PresidentJere Morehead confirmed that one UGA student was injured in the attacks, and said he was deeply saddened and expressed gratitude for the first responders.[83] TheNew Orleans Saints andNew Orleans Pelicans released a joint statement paying tribute to the victims and the city's resilience.[84] The Pelicans held a moment of silence before their game on the same day against theMiami Heat.[85] During the Sugar Bowl, a moment of silence was held before kickoff,[86][87] followed by the crowd chanting "U-S-A!" afterthe national anthem.[87]
InPasadena, California, a moment of silence for the victims was held during theRose Parade.[88] A year earlier, a rented Archer barrier had prevented a woman from driving her car into the 2024 Rose Parade.[4][89]
Superintendent Kirkpatrick expressly refused to cast blame when asked by a journalist whether she was upset that she had not known in advance about the city's Archer barriers.[4] On January 3, 2025, Lieutenant GovernorBilly Nungesser criticized the city government in a statement for "a complete failure of responsibility to keep the city safe, from the top down, by not having those barriers in place or even having knowledge of them". Local workers in the French Quarter interviewed by NBC News were appalled by the city's failure to deploy Archer barriers to block sidewalks before the attack. They also challenged the wisdom of the city's decision to replace the permanent bollards during the winter, the busiest season for the French Quarter.[90]
Ramp barrier on Bourbon Street, May 2025
Within a few days, unknown persons had scrawled handwritten messages on the Archer barriers, such as "USE ME" and "DO NOT HIDE ME".[91] In the meantime, Peter Whitford, the chief executive officer of Meridian Rapid Defense Group, traveled to New Orleans to assist the city with properly deploying Archer barriers.[5] He toldThe Guardian: "We're here to help New Orleans get to the standard that it needs to get to".[91]
TheNational Football League expressed confidence that spectators and participants alike would have a safe and enjoyable experience at the Super Bowl.[92] The NFL and Saints also provided a $1 million donation to help the families of the victims as well as a league-wide moment of silence for all week 18 games.[93]
The truck's owner said that the FBI had instructed him not to publicly talk about the matter.[1] His wife said she and her husband were devastated and offered condolences.[6][2][75]
The husband of Jabbar's ex-wife said Jabbar's daughters were distraught.[1] Jabbar's brother told reporters that when he was questioned by the FBI, "They want to know why he did this. I could not give them an answer. That's not the brother I know." Of the videos recorded by his brother, he said, "It's just hard to believe – it's insane. It's unlike him."[47] He sat down with Beaumont'sKBMT-TV for an extensive interview, saying that "he lost his brother" adding that "he caused so much damage and destruction to other people."[94]
The Islamic Society of Greater Houston expressed its condolences to the victims of the attack, saying it was "horrified by the senseless crime targeting civilians" and that "ISGH has a longstanding absolute zero-tolerance policy against extremism and suspicious activities."[58]
A small private funeral for Jabbar was held on February 2, 2025 in Houston.[95]
On January 9, the Islamic State, in the 477th issue of its weekly newsletter "Al-Naba", praised the attack and Jabbar himself, calling on other supporters to follow in his footsteps.[111]
1:53 a.m.: Jabbar planted the first IED inside of a cooler at Bourbon Street near St. Peter street[113]
Jabbar returned to his truck to retrieve the second IED which was in a different type of cooler
2:20 a.m.: Jabbar planted the second IED at Bourbon and Toulouse Streets. Both areas where the IEDs were placed were located in theFrench Quarter.[113][114]
3:15 a.m.: Jabbar drove down Canal Street before evading a traffic barricade and turning onto Bourbon Street, where he ran over dozens of pedestrians.[112]
3:17 a.m.: Jabbar exited the truck and shot at responding police officers before being killed by police returning gunfire in a shootout.[114]
Shortly after 5 a.m.: A fire was reported in Jabbar's rental home[113]
4:03 p.m.: The Sugar Bowl announced the game would be rescheduled to January 2.[114]
January 2, 2025
2–8 a.m.: Officials begin cleaning Bourbon Street at 2:00 a.m. and finish at 8:00 a.m.[114]
Around 1:00 p.m.: Bourbon Street reopens to pedestrians.[114][115]
^Jacobs, Lisa (January 1, 2024)."Disaster avoided at Rose Parade after driver smashes through barrier".Los Angeles Daily News. The article headline incorrectly implies that the car went through the barrier; the article body reveals that the car was significantly damaged but the barrier held.
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