The brother of the man accused of carrying out the New Year’s Eve attack in New Orleans has spoken out about the tragic incident.
On that night, 15 lives were tragically lost and more than 35 people were injured when the suspect targeted a large group of revellers who had gathered to welcome the new year.
His brother attributes his actions to radicalization, particularly following the discovery of evidence suggesting the suspect intended to harm his own family before the public attack.
Abdur Jabbar, originally from Texas, shared insights with the New York Times about his brother, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, who embraced Islam at a young age.
According to Abdur, Shamsud-Din had been influenced by extremist groups such as ISIS, but he emphasized that his brother’s heinous act does not reflect the tenets of Islam. He believes Shamsud-Din was led astray by radical influences.
A former army veteran, Shamsud-Din was fatally shot by police after perpetrating the attack, which left a trail of devastation. His vehicle contained explosives that did not detonate, which potentially prevented further loss of life.
Described by former partners as abusive, the suspect was twice divorced and had two daughters, aged 15 and 20.
