On Jan. 1, a truck was driven into a crowd of people celebrating New Year’s on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, LA. 14 people were killed and 57 were injured in the attack, which was determined by the FBI as an act of terrorism.
The attacker was identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Texas resident and US citizen. He used a rented Ford pickup truck to avoid barriers placed by police on Bourbon Street. After running into the crowd, he exited the vehicle and was killed by police, but not before injuring two officers. The Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department, Anne Kirkpatrick, stated that Jabbar “was trying to run over as many people as possible.”
Freshman Carolyn Frank was saddened when she heard about the attack. “I felt disappointed that stuff like this is still happening today despite different precautions that everybody takes in their lives,” Frank said.
Car attacks have risen in frequency in recent years, with three major ones in 2024. The FBI discovered that Jabbar searched for information about an attack at the Magdeburg Christmas market in Germany (Dec. 20) just hours before the attack.
In response twelve days later, on Jan. 13, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a Public Service Announcement stating their concern for “possible copycat or retaliatory attacks.” The announcement urged the public to stay aware of copycat attacks and report any suspicious activity.
On Bourbon Street, barriers had previously been installed to prevent cars from entering. However, the barriers malfunctioned often and were removed in an attempt to replace them before the Super Bowl in February. This created concerns about the preparedness of the city for an event as large as New Year’s Day celebrations.
Freshman Evelyn Younkin believes the failure to have proper barriers contributed to the devastation. “I think that people should really double-check the safety measures before [holding events]. Especially in the world we live in today. Also, I feel like a lot of companies need to ensure the safety of the things they’re producing,” Younkin said. “A lot of people need to make sure they’re using safe objects and equipment when dealing with mass crowds.”
However, tragedy can still occur regardless of safety precautions. Frank is unsure of the possibility of completely stopping attacks but instead hopes for mitigation. “I don’t know if it can be prevented, but I think it can definitely be dampened by just having more people ready for scenarios like this,” Frank said.
Investigators found two bombs inside coolers a few blocks from the attack. The bombs were found to be connected to a remote that was inside the truck. Additionally, two guns were found. Initially, Jabbar was thought to have accomplices, but further investigation revealed he acted alone.
From 1:29 a.m. to 3:02 a.m., Jabbar posted videos on social media expressing his aim to harm and explaining his inspiration from the group ISIS before the attack at 3:15 a.m. Investigations revealed Jabbar as a previous member of the U.S. military. Later that day, a fire broke out in an Airbnb thought to be rented by Jabbar. The fire was believed to attempt to destroy evidence but was put out. Investigators collected evidence which included materials for making explosives.
The attack comes at an interesting time for national security in our country. It took place just two weeks before the FBI Director Christopher Wray resigned to let Kash Patel, President Trump’s choice, step in. The FBI has recently been under scrutiny regarding national investigations and controversial choices. Patel has been vocal about his plans for a complete reconstruction of the FBI. The New Orleans attack will surely play a role in conversations about the reform.
Frank thinks that times of political unrest can exacerbate issues. “People get a lot more angry and tense whenever situations like this arise and they have a lot of emotions which lead to really dire decisions,” Frank said.
Younkin agreed, noting the bias against or for political parties as a factor. “I think it would make the tensions worse because a lot of people might be blaming it on people’s political parties when events like this happen. I feel like it might cause a lot of discourse when people find out they might be part of one political party or not,” Younkin said.
Despite the discussion, condolences were expressed by many. Politicians including former President Joe Biden and President Trump stated their support for the victim’s families. The Sugar Bowl, which occurred in New Orleans the following day, held a moment of silence before the kick-off. The teams playing, the University of Georgia and the University of Notre Dame, both put out statements about the attack. A moment of silence was also held during the Rose Parade in California.
Additionally, the NFL issued a statement ensuring fans that they would be able to safely enjoy the upcoming Super Bowl. Along with the New Orleans Saints, they donated $1 million to the victims’ families.
Bourbon Street was reopened to visitors the following day around 1:00 p.m. As the nation continues to mourn, investigations are still ongoing, looking to find answers to the tragedy.
