New Orleans Bourbon Street Attack: Rare Explosive Compound Used, FBI Investigation Reveals
Federal investigators are examining the use of a rare and previously unseen explosive compound in the New Orleans Bourbon Street attack on January 1, 2025. Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the perpetrator who rammed a truck into a crowd of New Year’s revelers, killing 14 and injuring at least 35 others, utilized this compound in two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found at the scene. These IEDs, thankfully, did not detonate. The FBI has confirmed Jabbar intended to detonate them remotely using a transmitter found inside his F-150 truck.
The investigation has yielded significant findings across multiple locations. Searches of Jabbar’s Houston-area trailer uncovered “bomb-making materials” and “precursor chemicals” used to create the IEDs. Investigators are currently working to determine how Jabbar acquired knowledge of this unique compound and its synthesis. Further evidence, including pre-cursors for bomb-making materials and what appears to be a homemade silencer, was recovered from a New Orleans Airbnb Jabbar rented before the attack. Jabbar attempted to destroy evidence by setting a small fire in the Airbnb, but the fire was quickly extinguished, preserving crucial evidence for investigators.
The FBI has received nearly 1,000 tips and leads, leading to a nationwide effort involving hundreds of FBI personnel from across the country. These resources are focused on processing evidence collected from Bourbon Street, the Airbnb, and Jabbar’s Houston residence. This evidence includes the transmitter, two firearms linked to Jabbar, clothing, shell casings, and terabytes of video data from New Orleans street cameras. All evidence is undergoing thorough analysis at the FBI Laboratory.
The FBI continues to interview survivors and witnesses, with the number of injured individuals expected to increase. New Orleans Police Department officers fatally shot Jabbar after he opened fire on them and the crowd. The investigation is ongoing, and the FBI is committed to pursuing all leads to fully understand the circumstances of this tragic event.
About the Author: Michael Horton is a Digital Content Producer for KPRC Click2Houston, based in Houston, TX. A Kingwood native, he joined the KPRC 2 team in Spring 2024. He holds a B.A. from Texas A&M University and an M.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.