New Orleans attack suspect previously traveled to Tampa, FBI says

FBI says New Orleans attacker traveled to Tampa

FBI officials said the man who killed 14 people and injured dozens more on New Year’s Day in New Orleans visited Tampa in late October 2024.

TAMPA, Fla. - The man responsible for the deadly New Year's Day terrorist attack in New Orleans visited Tampa just months ago, according to the FBI.

FBI officials told FOX 13 that Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen from Houston, traveled to Tampa on Oct. 26, 2024, and returned to Houston two days later.

FBI says New Orleans attack suspect traveled through Tampa.

At a news conference on Sunday, federal officials said Jabbar also visited New Orleans twice prior to Jan. 1 and traveled to other places, including Cairo, Egypt and Ontario, Canada.

It's not clear, however, if any of those trips were connected to last Wednesday's attack.

Bourbon Street attack

Authorities said Jabbar used a truck to plow into a crowd of people in the early morning hours on New Year's Day, killing 14 people and injuring more than 30 others.

Jabbar also proclaimed his support for ISIS on social media in the hours leading to the attack.

Investigators found two improvised explosive devices left in coolers several blocks apart, as well. Jabbar bought a cooler in Texas hours before he struck, the FBI said.

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden planned to visit New Orleans on Monday to "grieve with the families and community members impacted by the tragic attack."

STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: