Iraqi authorities have confirmed the arrest of an ISIS member accused of inciting the New Year’s terrorist attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, which left 15 people dead, including the perpetrator. The arrest follows months of investigation into the January 1, 2025, attack, where SHAMSUD-DIN JABBAR, a 42-year-old Texas resident, drove a Ford F-150 into a crowd of revelers, killing 14 civilians and injuring 57 others. JABBAR was later killed in a shootout with police.
The Iraqi judiciary stated that the arrest was made at the request of U.S. authorities, though details about the suspect’s role in inciting the attack remain undisclosed. The suspect, whose name has not been released, will be tried in Iraq under the country’s anti-terror laws for his affiliation with ISIS.
According to a translated statement from the Iraqi judiciary, the arrest was facilitated by the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation. The center received a request from the U.S. to assist in the investigation of the New Orleans attack, where JABBAR rammed a truck into a crowd before opening fire. The First Karkh Investigation Court identified and arrested the suspect in Iraq, who is reportedly a member of ISIS’s Foreign Operations Office.
The FBI’s New Orleans field office emphasized that the investigation remains active and ongoing. While JABBAR is believed to have acted alone, the FBI has not ruled out the possibility of accomplices. Authorities revealed that JABBAR had visited New Orleans twice before the attack, on October 30 and November 10, 2024, and had also traveled to Cairo and Toronto.
Former FBI Director CHRISTOPHER WRAY described JABBAR as a “lone wolf” terrorist who was radicalized online within weeks. “He appears to have been inspired – from afar – by ISIS. And it is, in many ways, the most challenging type of terrorist threat we face,” WRAY told *60 Minutes* in January.
JABBAR, a twice-divorced Army veteran, had a history of financial struggles despite holding a lucrative job at a consulting firm. During his pre-attack visits to New Orleans, he used Meta smart glasses to record his surroundings while biking through the French Quarter. On December 31, 2024, he rented a Ford truck in Houston and drove to New Orleans, where he stayed at an Airbnb. Authorities later discovered bomb-making materials and evidence of an attempted arson at the rental property.
The attack has prompted lawsuits from victims’ families, and Louisiana’s Attorney General is investigating potential security lapses.
[WATCH: New Orleans Police Respond to Bourbon St Attack](https://example.com)
[Fox News’ Patrick McGovern contributed to this report.](https://example.com)
**Sources:**
[Iraqi Judiciary Statement](https://example.com)
[FBI New Orleans Statement](https://example.com)
[60 Minutes Interview with Christopher Wray](https://example.com)