Shamsud-Din Jabbar is accused of driving a pickup truck with an Islamic State (IS) flag through a crowd of people celebrating the New Year in New Orleans, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more. Almost a year ago, Shamsud-Din Jabbar expressed his belief that music, intoxicants and sex were dangerous. and other pleasures were evils worthy of destruction.
An account on the SoundCloud platform named Jabbar posted three recordings totaling approximately 20 minutes containing these and other expressions of extremist religious views.
SoundCloud did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The audio recordings confirm that Mr Jabbar was running the company before authorities say he carried out a deadly terrorist attack targeting one of the world’s most famous festivals, killing and wounding Mix. The voice matches the voice heard in a video promoting a real estate business. Local residents and foreign tourists. He was shot and killed by police at the end of Wednesday’s Bourbon Street attack, bringing the total number of deaths to 15, the local coroner announced Thursday.
Islamic scholars widely reject the extremist stance of those who sympathize with Islam and terrorist organizations, saying that Islam teaches the importance of mercy, peace and justice.
A statement from the Council on American-Islamic Relations on Thursday cited reports that Jabbar had previously been accused of engaging in some of the acts he has denounced, including drunk driving and spousal abuse. He said: An example of why a brutal, ruthless, bottom-feeding extremist group has been rejected by the overwhelming majority of the Muslim world, from Islamic scholars to mosques, organizations and individuals. ”
“We strongly condemn this crime, (and) we stand in solidarity with the people of New Orleans,” the group said, appealing to those who can help law enforcement capture Jabbar’s potential accomplices. He called on people to come forward.
Nevertheless, the recording appears to answer an early question about Jabbar: how long he could have been radicalized without being detected. The audio proves that Jabbar was openly detailing his extremist religious views by around February 2024, but relatively few observers have taken note, and as of Thursday morning, the recording was not available. It garnered less than 300 total views. The account had two followers while following various Muslim-related accounts on the platform.
In the longest recording, Jabbar explains that “rap-like verses” could gradually lure people into “what God has forbidden us: intoxicants like marijuana, alcohol, sedatives, opioids, and meth.” The main focus is on the content of the Bible as interpreted.
“And music also has a way of seducing us into illicit sex, vulgarity, violence, betrayal, arrogance, robbery, cheating, and ingratitude towards spouses and others,” he continued. Suggesting that music is “the voice of Satan,” he added, “Music causes us to squander wealth, sever ties of kinship, and even invites us to idolatry by calling us to worship the artists themselves.” added.
The 42-year-old, who most recently lived in Houston, blames one rap song in particular for three consecutive murders in his neighborhood shortly after the song was released in the early 2000s. I continued to do so. He also said he believes the Bible commands people to “forbid evil.”
“In fact, Allah commands Satan to incite mankind with his voice, to attack with his soldiers, to become a collaborator,” said Jabbar, a U.S.-born citizen and Afghanistan veteran. . “…The prohibition of evil is the duty of all mankind.”
Jabbar claims in another recording: “Allah says, ‘Save those who believe and do righteous deeds…They will receive the good news of Paradise, with all its gifts and joys, never ending.'”
Jabbar’s comments would later escalate dramatically. Joe Biden said investigators found that “hours before the attack” Jabbar “posted a video on social media showing him expressing a desire to kill and be inspired by the Islamic State.” He said that he and White House aides were informed by the FBI.
CNN reported that it spoke with two officials who were briefed on the video. Regarding them, Jabbar mentions a divorce and plans to gather the family under the guise of a celebration before murdering them.
But before he ultimately changed his plans and joined the terrorist organization, Jabbar said he had a dream about why he should join ISIS, according to CNN. The network added that it had not independently investigated the video but understands it was filmed while Jabbar was driving at night.
Punchbowl News on Thursday reported that Jabbar posted five videos on Facebook the morning before the attack in New Orleans, according to a briefing given to some U.S. House members and senators. It was reported. Punchbowl’s Congressional reporter Mika Solner, citing sources briefed on the matter, wrote of X: “In the first (video), he explained his support for ISIS ideology, and in the second he “stated his will.”
In court filings, Jabbar complained that one of his two divorces made it difficult for him to pay the bills. His other legal issues include a DUI conviction and a restraining order obtained by his ex-wife who claims he was abusive, which was first reported by TMZ.
On Wednesday, Mr. Jabbar rented a pickup truck, placed an IS flag in the back seat, and then steered away from a police blockade at the bottom of Bourbon Street to enjoy a raucous festival of jazz, rap music and Mardi. It crashed into people who were making a fuss to celebrate the New Year in this iconic city. Gura. He also fired a rifle at crowds and police in New Orleans’ historic French Quarter while wearing a bulletproof vest and helmet. He injured two police officers who confronted him and was later shot dead by police.
Authorities said Jabbar killed 14 victims and injured about 35 others. Many of the victims were from the New Orleans area or near Mississippi. However, previous information released by various officials said some of the victims were residents of other states or nationals of other countries, including Mexico and Israel.
At a news conference Thursday, FBI officials said investigators suspect Mr. Jabbar was solely responsible for the previous day’s murder. Authorities spent Wednesday searching for possible accomplices after finding numerous improvised explosive devices left near the scene of the attack. Both devices were wired for remote detonation, and corresponding remote controls were found in Jabbar’s truck.
The short-term rental home where Mr. Jabbar was staying was later found intentionally set on fire about two miles from the scene of the attack.
Local and state leaders on Thursday communicated to the public the need to demonstrate resiliency, along with compassion for the victims and their families in the aftermath of the attacks, as they embarked on plans for a return to normalcy.
“Remember, we cannot understand evil,” New Orleans City Councilman Oliver Thomas said in a statement. “Our focus must be on prayers and support for everyone involved.”
