Deadly New Orleans attack underscores looming threat of IS attacks in the US
Deadly New Orleans attack underscores looming threat of IS attacks in the US
Islamic State has urged followers to attack the US, and the attorney general has called the group a top security concern
Summary
The New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans, where US army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar killed 14 and injured dozens in an ISIS-inspired car-ramming and shooting, has reignited concerns about the Islamic State’s (IS) resurgence in the US.
Authorities found IS propaganda in Jabbar’s possession, and he had pledged allegiance online before the attack.
Analysts warn that IS rhetoric encouraging low-tech, lone-wolf tactics has surged.
Though US law enforcement has thwarted several IS-linked plots in 2024, the attack highlights challenges in preventing such operations and deterring potential copycats emboldened by online propaganda.