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Shamsud-Din Jabbar: The distinguished veteran who disrupted New Year’s Eve in New Orleans

A former military man with an anti-terrorism medal who struck terror on New Year’s Eve

Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Texas-born man, wreaked havoc on New Year’s Eve in New Orleans by crashing his car into a festive crowd on Bourbon Street. The attack killed at least 15 people and injured 35 others. Jabbar, who was killed in the firefight with police, had received several medals during his service in the army, including the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Jabbar’s military background

Jabbar served in the army from March 2007 to January 2015, initially as a Human Resource Specialist and later as an Information Technology (IT) Specialist. During this time, he was deployed to Afghanistan between February 2009 and January 2010. After leaving active service, he remained a reservist until July 2020, when he finally left the army with the rank of sergeant.

Personal life and financial problems

Jabbar had two failed marriages behind him, one in 2012 and the second in 2022. On the way from Texas to Louisiana, Jabbar recorded videos in which he admitted that he initially planned to reunite his family to kill everyone, but then changed his mind and decided to join Isis.

In a YouTube video, Jabbar positively described his military experience, saying that it taught him ‘the meaning of service, responsibility and taking everything seriously’. In the video, the man speaks in front of a poster that reads ‘discipline’ and holds a book entitled ‘leadership’.

Criminal record and legal disputes

Jabbar had a few previous misdemeanour convictions, such as a theft in 2002 and drink driving in 2015. His divorces were stormy, with his first wife suing him for non-payment of alimony in 2012 and a Texas judge in 2020 ordering him not to approach his second wife during the divorce.

The attack and its aftermath

During the attack, Jabbar was carrying an Isis flag and explosive devices were found on the rented pick-up truck. US President Joe Biden said the FBI found videos on social media in which Jabbar expressed a desire to kill and was inspired by Isis.

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