BREAKING: ISIS-aligned Bourbon Street terrorist traveled to Egypt, Canada in years prior to attack

Officials say that Jabbar, who drove a Ford F-150 into crowds in New Orleans earlier this week, traveled to Cairo from June 22 to July 3, 2023. He then flew into Ontario on July 10 and returned to the US on July 13. Special Agent Lionel Myrthil did not elaborate on how the new information may explain a motive for the attack.

Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI’s counterterrorism division Chris Raia reiterated that they believe Jabbar acted alone.

The FBI said during their Thursday press conference that they believe Jabbar acted alone and was "inspired" by ISIS but not "directed" by the terrorist organization. Jabbar rented the pickup truck in Houston on December 30 and drove to New Orleans on December 31. He posted several videos in which he proclaimed his support for ISIS. The FBI said that Jabbar had joined the terrorist organization "before this summer." Two IEDs were recovered from the area and an ISIS flag was recovered "from the back of the vehicle."

Raia said that three phones linked to Jabbar had been recovered as well as two laptops, and that an ISIS flag was "recovered from the back of the vehicle." FBI bomb technicians recovered two IEDs in coolers, one which was located at the intersection of Bourbon and Orleans Street and one at an intersection around two blocks away.

"There were multiple reports of other devices, those reports turned out to be … not actual functioning devices." Surveillance footage was obtained showing Jabbar "placing the devices where they were found," said Raia.