The details are sparse, but Iraq’s judiciary said Sunday that they have arrested a suspected ISIS member alleged to have been part of the horrific New Year’s Day terror attack in New Orleans that left 14 dead and at least 57 injured.
The individual, whose name was not released, will be prosecuted in Iraq under the country’s anti-terrorism laws, Iraqi officials said. https://t.co/cZwiASbTJQ pic.twitter.com/NFERfDTmTC
— WWL-TV (@WWLTV) April 29, 2025
The U.S. had been in contact with Iraqi officials regarding the attack, although the role of this suspect is not clear:
The Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq said the arrest came after an official U.S. request for assistance in investigating the attack.
The suspect's name and role in the attack have not been released.
The Judicial Council of Iraq said the suspect will be prosecuted under the anti-terrorism law.
The driver of the truck, 42-year-old Texan Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was a Muslim, US Army veteran and alleged ISIS convert who railed about "the war between the believers and the disbelievers.” He rammed his rented Ford F-150 Lightning truck down a crowded Bourbon Street before, thankfully, he was shot to death by police.
Some reports indicate that the Iraqi ISIS suspect—who is “a member of the external operations office of the Daesh terrorist organization,” according to the Iraqi supreme court—incited Jabbar to commit the despicable act.
BREAKING: Iraqi officials say they've arrested an alleged ISIS terrorist in connection with the Jan. 1 Bourbon Street terror attack that killed 14 people.
— Jennie Taer 🎗️ (@JennieSTaer) April 29, 2025
The suspect is accused of inciting Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, to carry out the attack in New Orleans.https://t.co/ay5fZbD26U
Related: NEW: Attacker in Bourbon Street Massacre Identified, and the FBI Clearly Misled the Public (UPDATED)
As RedState's Bonchie reported after the attack, the FBI initially went all-in on the "this is not a terrorist attack" narrative.
Notably and inexcusably, the FBI initially proclaimed this was not a terrorist attack, with the FBI Special Agent in Charge making that statement after New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell had already confirmed it was one.
SEE: FBI Already in Hot Water With Announcement on NOLA Attack
FBI ASSISTANT SPECIAL AGENT: This is not a terrorist event. What it is right now is there improvised explosive devices that was found, and we are working on confirming if this is a viable device or not.
That narrative quickly fell apart and left the FBI with egg on its face.
RedState will bring you updates as new developments arise.
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