The New Orleans terrorist attacker, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, raised red flags hours before carrying out an attack that left 14 civilians dead in the French Quarter, according to behavioral analyst Susan Constantine. Surveillance videos released by the FBI showed Jabbar behaving anomalously with behaviors such as wearing a long coat, carrying a cooler on wheels, frequently looking at his phone, and potentially motioning to someone in a suspicious manner. Constantine noted that these behaviors were red flags indicative of potential danger. She also pointed out oddities in Jabbar’s behavior, such as being alone in crowds of friends, wearing formal clothes, leaving the cooler behind, and pacing frequently with “happy feet” due to the adrenaline rush of knowing what he was about to do.
Despite the FBI initially stating that Jabbar had acted alone in the attack, a New Orleans Field Office spokesperson mentioned that all aspects of the case are still under investigation. Constantine highlighted the need for education among consumers to help identify suspicious behaviors, as officers and security personnel cannot be everywhere at once. She also mentioned that Bourbon Street, where the attack took place, can be crowded with revelers who may not pay attention to shady individuals among them, given the distractions of jazz music and colorful artwork in the area.
Constantine emphasized that there are behavioral indicators of anomalies that can help identify potential threats, such as odd behaviors observed in Jabbar’s case. She mentioned that suspicious people on Bourbon Street might be hard to pick out among the crowds, which is why Jabbar may have chosen that location for his attack. The analyst pointed out that there are many eccentric individuals on Bourbon Street, especially when alcohol is involved, making it easier for a potential terrorist to go unnoticed in such a setting.
The FBI is still actively investigating the attack and noted that Jabbar was motivated by ISIS extremism. It was revealed that Jabbar had visited New Orleans twice before the attack, as well as Cairo, Egypt, and Toronto, Canada. While it appears that Jabbar acted alone in carrying out the attack, authorities are continuing to investigate whether he had any accomplices. The attack serves as a reminder of the need for increased vigilance and awareness of potential threats in crowded public spaces, such as the French Quarter, where the incident occurred.
The incident in New Orleans has raised concerns about the potential for ISIS to radicalize other individuals in the United States. The attack, along with the details of Jabbar’s visits to various locations before carrying out the terrorist act, highlights the need for heightened security measures and awareness of potential threats in public spaces. The FBI’s investigation into the attack is ongoing, with authorities working to determine whether there was any involvement of accomplices in the planning or execution of the attack. The need for constant vigilance and education of the public in identifying suspicious behavior remains crucial in preventing such tragic events from occurring in the future.
