Federal authorities announced on Sunday that Shamsud-Dim Jabbar, the perpetrator of the New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans, used Meta smart glasses to scout the location of his attack months in advance. The FBI revealed that Jabbar visited the French Quarter in October 2024, spending at least two days in the city. During this visit, he wore the smart glasses and recorded video footage of himself cycling through the area he would later target.
The attack, which involved Jabbar driving his pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, resulted in fourteen fatalities and numerous injuries. While Jabbar was wearing the Meta smart glasses during the attack itself, the FBI confirmed they were not activated to record the event.
Following his October reconnaissance, Jabbar returned to New Orleans, residing in a rental home from late October 2024 onward. Further investigation indicates he was also present in the city on November 10th, a detail confirmed through public information. The FBI continues to investigate the specifics of this November trip. The Army veteran, who had previously pledged allegiance to ISIS, is currently facing numerous charges related to the deadly attack.