Man behind New Orleans attack visited the city twice before: FBI

The man behind the New Orleans attack visited the city at least twice in the months before the attack, FBI Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil said in an update on Sunday.

Shamsud-Din Jabbar, who was identified as the man shot and killed by police after the deadly New Year’s Day attack on Bourbon Street, traveled to New Orleans in late October and in November.

During his first trip, Jabbar stayed at a rental home for at least two days beginning on Oct. 30, Myrthil said. While in New Orleans, Jabbar used Meta glasses to record video of the French Quarter as he rode on a bike through the neighborhood.

The FBI showed video of Jabbar on the trip with his glasses and encouraged the public to contact them if they saw or interacted with him on that trip.

“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 said at the briefing, adding that Jabbar was wearing the glasses during the attack but did not livestream footage from that day.

The second trip to New Orleans, Myrthil said, took place on Nov. 10, but FBI officials “are still piecing together details of that trip.”

Jabbar also traveled to Cairo, Egypt, from June 22 to July 3 of 2023, and, 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 said at the briefing.

Officials still say Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Houston, acted alone when he killed 14 people early on New Year’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,” said 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.”