Federal agents uncovered "a significant amount of bomb-making materials and chemicals" while searching the trailer of Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the perpetrator of the New Orleans terrorist attack in which 14 people were killed. The search was conducted by the FBI and the Harris County Sheriff's Office in his Texas trailer.
A senior law enforcement official confirmed that remnants of bomb-making activity were found in the trailer, located near Houston, according to the NBC News. Two officials familiar with the investigation added that agents are confident they have recovered all significant materials.
The search was part of a court-authorized investigation following Jabbar's deadly attack in New Orleans on New Year's Day. Jabbar, a Texas-born U.S. citizen and Army veteran, drove a pickup truck into crowds on Bourbon Street, killing 14 people and injuring dozens. Authorities also discovered improvised explosive devices in Jabbar's vehicle and elsewhere in the French Quarter.
The FBI continues to examine Jabbar's motives, including his online activity, which included posts proclaiming his support for ISIS, according to Christopher Raia, deputy assistant director of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division.
President Biden confirmed at a White House press conference on Thursday that Jabbar acted alone and had a "remote detonator" in his vehicle that would set off bombs in ice coolers he placed around the city's French Quarter.
Bourbon Street reopened late Thursday with increased security, though the usually vibrant area was subdued. Tourists and locals trickled into bars and restaurants, many avoiding the site of the attack. A makeshift memorial of flowers, candles, and teddy bears lined the street, a tribute from local workers to those who lost their lives.
The FBI and local law enforcement are continuing investigations into Jabbar's motives and the events leading up to the attackWitnesses can submit tips online at the FBI's Digital Media Tipline at www.fbi.gov/bourbonstreetattack, or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.
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