
(TheIndependentStar.com) – The FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have issued an alarming warning about potential copycat vehicle-ramming attacks following the New Year’s Day tragedy in New Orleans.
This revelation exposes the ongoing threat of Islamic extremism on American soil and raises questions about the effectiveness of current national security policies.
The warning stems from the horrific incident on January 1st when Shamsud-Din Jabbar rammed a rented pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street.
Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran who pledged allegiance to ISIS, killed 14 and injured over two dozen people in the shocking incident.
This act of terror has now prompted federal agencies to sound the alarm about possible similar attacks across the nation.
The FBI and DHS issued a bulletin saying they “are concerned about possible copycat or retaliatory attacks due to the persistent appeal of vehicle ramming as a tactic for aspiring violent extremist attackers.”
This warning comes at a critical time, a few days before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20th.
Jabbar, who traveled to Egypt in 2023, may have been radicalized during this trip. This incident raises serious questions about our ability to monitor and prevent the radicalization of American citizens abroad.
“This next most important phase of the investigation is to find out how that radicalization happened and if it happened on that trip,” said Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams.
The ease with which terrorists can carry out these attacks is alarming. They can rent, steal or own vehicles, making them readily accessible weapons.
ISIS has been promoting vehicle-ramming attacks since 2014, with increased calls for such attacks in recent years.
FBI Director Christopher Wray highlighted the challenges in preventing such attacks, stating, “You’re talking about guys like this, who radicalize not in years but in weeks, and whose method of attack is still very deadly but fairly crude.”
“We ask that the public remain vigilant regarding possible copycat or retaliatory attacks and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement,” the FBI and DHS added in the bulletin.
BREAKING: Feds release alert warning of copycat ISIS-inspired vehicle attacks in the U.S.
"The FBI and DHS are concerned about possible copycat or retaliatory attacks due to the persistent appeal of vehicle ramming as a tactic for aspiring violent extremist attackers." pic.twitter.com/Bkui9ez8U6
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 13, 2025
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