In a tragic incident in New Orleans, 14 pedestrians lost their lives when a truck was driven into them on New Year's Day. The attacker, Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, was noted to be inspired by ISIS propaganda, although the group did not formally claim responsibility.
New Orleans Tragedy: ISIS Claims Influence but Denies Responsibility
New Orleans Tragedy: ISIS Claims Influence but Denies Responsibility
A recent attack on Bourbon Street left 14 dead as ISIS claims inspiration from the assailant without taking direct responsibility.
A powerful and harrowing attack struck Bourbon Street in New Orleans early on New Year’s Day, as 14 people were killed when a truck, driven by 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, mowed down pedestrians. The Islamic State has publicly acknowledged that the assailant was "influenced by the discourse and messaging" of their organization, but they stopped short of claiming direct responsibility for the horrific incident.
In a bulletin released this past Thursday, ISIS reported that Mr. Jabbar's actions were inspired by their online propaganda, mocking the media's anticipation of a direct claim from the terror group. They described the perpetrator—who was killed in a confrontation with law enforcement—as an American man and made a reference to the Meta glasses he was wearing during the attack. The F.B.I. confirmed that Jabbar had no active ties to ISIS but considered him "100 percent inspired by ISIS."
Within the chilling context of the attack, Mr. Jabbar reportedly left a recorded message for his family indicating his alignment with the terrorist group. The truck he drove bore an ISIS flag, further complicating the narrative of his motivations.
Experts are noting that this situation is quite atypical for ISIS. Joshua Fisher-Birch, a researcher from the Counter Extremism Project, highlighted that unlike previous attacks where ISIS claimed direct responsibility, in this case, they are merely noting the inspiration without acknowledging a direct relationship with the assailant.
This peculiar situation raises concerns about the role of online propaganda in radicalizing individuals. ISIS's insistence on continuing its messaging through channels of shared content may serve as a call for future attacks, suggesting they remain a potent threat both online and on the ground, especially during significant events and holidays.
