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New Orleans Terror Attack: The suspect in the New Orleans attack, identified by the FBI as 42-year-old US citizen Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was reportedly a real estate agent from Texas. Jabbar had served in the military for several years but later faced financial difficulties and divorce. In a YouTube video posted four years ago, he spoke with a southern US accent and boasted about his skills as a "fierce negotiator" while promoting his property management services to potential clients.

Authorities investigating the New Orleans New Year's attack have discovered disturbing videos featuring the primary suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar. In the recordings, Jabbar allegedly discusses his plans to harm his family and shares dreams that motivated him to join ISIS. The 42-year-old suspect, believed to be responsible for the deadly Bourbon Street incident that killed 15 and injured dozens, reportedly made these chilling videos while driving from Texas to Louisiana.

According to the Pentagon, Jabbar served in the Army as a human resources and IT specialist from 2007 to 2015 before transitioning to the Army Reserve, where he remained until 2020. He was deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010, and by the end of his service, he held the rank of Staff Sergeant. The Army confirmed that Jabbar was honorably discharged.

The attack in New Orleans, which took place in the early hours of Wednesday on Bourbon Street, left at least 15 people dead. CNN reported that a car rammed into a crowd, and the FBI has classified the incident as "an act of terrorism." The FBI revealed that Jabbar, the driver, had an ISIS flag and several suspected explosive devices in his vehicle, which was rented through the car-sharing platform Turo. The agency also stated that it does not believe Jabbar acted alone in the attack.

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Criminal records obtained by The New York Times indicate that Jabbar had two prior charges, theft in 2002 and driving with an invalid license in 2005.

Jabbar was twice married, with his second marriage ending in divorce in 2022. In an email to his wife's lawyer at the time, Jabbar detailed the financial problems he was experiencing, The New York Times reported.

His brother, Abdur Jabbar, who resides in Beaumont, Texas, described him as "a sweetheart, really—a nice guy, a friend, really smart, and caring." Abdur Jabbar stated that his brother had converted to Islam at a young age but added, "What he did does not represent Islam. This is more some type of radicalization, not religion."

Also Read: New Orleans Attack: Suspect Killed, Investigators Probe ISIS Link After Truck With ‘Black Flag’ Kills 10, Injures 30 | Updates

President Joe Biden told reporters that hours before the attack, Jabbar had shared videos online that suggested he was "inspired by ISIS," based on information provided by investigators. A black flag associated with the group was also found in the vehicle used in the attack, the FBI confirmed.

Regarding Shamsud-Din Jabbar's educational background and professional experience, an online resume has revealed the following information. Jabbar holds an associate's degree in computer science from Central Texas College (2010) and a bachelor's degree in information technology from Georgia State University (2017). His career has encompassed business development and data engineering roles at prominent consulting firms, including Deloitte and Accenture.

The New Orleans Police Department is working closely with the FBI and Homeland Security to investigate the incident further.