A deadly hit-and-run in New Orleans on New Year’s Eve has once again brought home the growing threat of Islamic terrorism in the United States. According to experts, ISIS remains dangerous despite its weakening. The incident also raised concerns about the safety of public events such as the upcoming Super Bowl.
Mako writes about this.
A week before Donald Trump returns to the White House, the FBI confirmed that the threat of Islamic terrorism in the United States is growing. The attack took place in downtown New Orleans. A pro-ISIS terrorist drove an SUV into a crowd of people celebrating. 15 people were killed and about 30 were injured.
“This is a blow not only to New Orleans, but to all of America,” said Oliver Thomas, a member of the New Orleans City Council. “Our city is a symbol, and the incident took place on one of the most famous streets in the world.”
As FBI Director Christopher Wray reported in October 2023, the threat level from foreign terrorists has increased significantly. According to him, the situation worsened after the Hamas attack on Israel. “I don’t remember another time when the threats to national security and public safety were so significant at the same time,” he said.
The terrorist turned out to be 42-year-old US citizen Shamsud-Din Jabbar, an army veteran who served in Afghanistan. He rented a Ford SUV and drove it into the crowd on the street. Weapons, a homemade bomb and an ISIS flag were found in the car. The deputy head of the FBI’s counterterrorism division called it a “well-planned and brutal act of terror.”
Donald Trump, the US president-elect, linked the attack to the Biden administration’s immigration policies. “I have said it many times: with his ‘open borders’, radical Islamic terrorism in America will become worse than anyone could imagine,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the incident highlights the need to rethink security priorities. In recent years, the main focus has been on threats from the Russian Federation and China.
Experts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies warn that the threat of ISIS remains. In 2024, five ISIS-related terrorist attacks were foiled. This is more than a year earlier.
The terrorist attack raised alarms about upcoming public events. The final Super Bowl game was postponed one day. Security questions surrounding the Super Bowl, which will be held in New Orleans in February, remain open. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency. 100 National Guard personnel have been deployed for security.
Stephen Miller, Trump’s future deputy chief of staff, wrote on social media X: “Islamic terrorism is an import. It didn’t exist in America before the migration.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed concern that ISIS could regain its strength in Syria. “This is a moment of vulnerability. ISIS may try to regroup,” he said. The US is keeping about 2,000 troops in northeast Syria to prevent ISIS from returning.
Previously, Kursor wrote that he connected the Tesla explosion near Trump’s hotel and the terrorist attack in New Orleans.