The FBI said Wednesday that the man who rammed a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year’s revelers in the French Quarter of New Orleans likely did not act alone, and the search was on for more terrorists.
Investigators also were reviewing a video that shows three men and a woman planting explosives in New Orleans. The FBI is searching for those four.
Their activity helped convince federal investigators that Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, 42, did not act alone.
“We do not believe that Jabbar was solely responsible,” Alethea Duncan, an assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s New Orleans field office, said at a news conference.
Further suggesting he had help, a Louisiana State Police intelligence bulletin said investigators found multiple explosive devices, including two pipe bombs that were concealed within coolers and wired for remote detonation.
According to the bulletin, which was obtained by The Associated Press, surveillance footage showed three men and a woman placing one of the devices, but federal officials did not immediately confirm that.
SEE ALSO: New Orleans terror attacker is U.S. citizen with ISIS flag
In remarks Wednesday at Camp David, President Biden said the law enforcement intelligence community was looking for connections, associations and co-conspirators for Jabbar.
“The FBI is leading the investigation to determine what happened, why it happened [and] whether there is any continuing threat to public safety,” he said.
He later told reporters that, hours before the attack, Jabbar posted videos on social media in which he said he was inspired by the Islamic State group and wanted to kill.
Federal and local law enforcement were conducting an operation Wednesday evening in the northern part of Houston at a home tied to Jabbar.
According to local media in Houston, FBI agents wielding long guns, a Harris County Sheriff’s Office SWAT vehicle and multiple sheriff’s investigators were at the home.
The FBI said it had a warrant to search the home but did not elaborate on whether possible accomplices were being targeted.
SEE ALSO: New Year’s terror: Driver dies in police shootout after rampage kills 15 in New Orleans
“We have secured a perimeter in that area and are asking people to avoid the area. FBI Houston personnel and specialized teams will be on-site for several hours,” the FBI’s Houston office said in a statement. “This activity is related to this morning’s New Orleans attack, but due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, no further information can be provided.”
While Americans reeled from the Bourbon Street terrorist attack, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded in front of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, killing the driver and injuring seven people. Authorities were investigating it as an intentional act and possibly another terrorist strike.
“Law enforcement and the intelligence community are investigating this as well, including whether any possible connection with the attack in New Orleans. Thus far, there’s nothing to report on that score at this time,” Mr. Biden said.
Agent Duncan said the bureau was seeking any associates of Jabbar.
“It’s a range of suspects. Right now, we do not want to rule anything out,” she said at a press conference in New Orleans. “That’s why we’re asking, if anyone has had any interaction with the deceased subject Jabbar in the last 72 hours, to provide us with this information.”
At a press conference with fellow officials, Rep. Troy Carter, Louisiana Democrat, warned any perpetrators on the run, “We will find you, and we will bring you to justice.”
Sen. John Kennedy, Louisiana Republican, described the search for more terrorists.
“Right now, they’re in the process of trying to catch the other bad guys,” he said, and Americans should be patient while the FBI and other investigators do their job.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.
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