In what was supposed to be a time of relaxation and celebration quickly turned into a period of chaos. On New Year’s Day, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar drove a truck into several people, leading to the deaths of fourteen individuals. In what seemed to be a planned and deliberate attack, Jabbar also had two makeshift explosives, or IEDs, in neighboring New Orleans areas.
At around 3:15 in the morning, Jabbar swerved around a police car and multiple barriers on New Orleans’s famous Bourbon Street. He consequently hit dozens of people with his truck on the crowded street. Many people were sent into local hospitals for treatment following the accident. The Improvised Explosive Devices were deemed safe as well, though there were other suspicious pieces that had to be further checked. Jabbar was later killed exchanging gunfire with authorities.
New Orleans was struck by this “act of terrorism” in a moment which should have reveled in athletic accomplishment. The city was planning on hosting the Sugar Bowl, a College Football Playoff Quarterfinal pitting number 2-ranked team Georgia against number 7-ranked team Notre Dame. This tragedy however led to the postponement of the game to the following day. At the game, which Notre Dame won 23-10, there was a moment of silence for the victims as well. New Orleans will host this year’s NFL Super Bowl as well.
What remains a shock is that Jabbar was an American citizen from Texas who pledged allegiance to ISIS, rather than a foreigner. Police and investigators are still carefully searching the background and motives of Jabbar. Once again, America must rally from an act of senseless brutality.
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Image Credits: Getty Images
