WATCH: Video Shows How NOLA Attacker Shamsud-Din Jabbar Entered Bourbon Street

There are a number of civilian videos circulating that show the attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans by Shamsud Din Jabbar, who the FBI and New Orleans Police Department confirm is the suspect who perpetrated the attack. This video, which was posted to X, captured the white truck driven by Jabbar entering through Canal Street and making an abrupt turn onto Bourbon Street.

WATCH:

This is how the driver got on Bourbon Street. This is horrible. Prayers up to all the victims. pic.twitter.com/zFO9p0WsW2

— Nader Mirfiq (@Nader723) January 1, 2025

So many questions remain. The first being: why were the security bollards not in place? According to local media, the city was in the midst of replacing them ahead of Super Bowl LIX, a fact that gave Jabbar an advantage in gaining access.

A set of security barriers that were installed in 2017 to prevent terrorist attacks along Bourbon Street were being replaced when a driver barreled down the city’s most famous thoroughfare hours into the New Year on Wednesday, killing 10 and injuring dozens.

The removable stainless-steel bollards are designed to be securely locked at each crosswalk along Bourbon Street between Canal and St. Ann streets, according to Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration. The attack occurred near the intersection of Bourbon and Iberville streets.

The bollard project began in November and was scheduled to last three months. It involves removing and replacing sections of road to take out the existing bollards. A city press release on Tuesday night noted the project was ongoing, but did not provide details of work done thus far.

The old barriers never worked too well, said Bob Simms, who until recently oversaw security initiatives for the French Quarter Management District.

“They were very ineffective. The track was always full of crap; beads and doubloons and God knows what else. Not the best idea,” Simms said. “Eventually everybody realized the need to replace them. They’re in the process of doing that, but the new ones are not yet operational.”

Simms said the old barrier at the crosswalk of Canal and Bourbon streets was removed a few weeks ago. Equipment for a replacement is in place, he said. 

“They’re doing it in time for the Super Bowl,” Simms said. “It’s ironic in a way.” 

Ironic — and ultimately tragic. Another question: Why was law enforcement not on higher alert in light of the bollards not being in place? The video shows Jabbar driving by a cop car right before making his abrupt high-speed turn onto Bourbon Street to make his attack. That same cop car responded after the attack, but by that point, it was too little, too late. 

A Wednesday afternoon press conference with FBI Special Agent Aletha Duncan, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick, Republican Senator John Kennedy, and other Louisiana elected officials was held to update on the investigation into Jabbar and his movements. The presser also included sports officials who updated on the plans for the Sugar Bowl, which had been scheduled for Wednesday evening but was postponed to Thursday, as well as revised plans for the Super Bowl in February.

Sen. Kennedy said he would “Raise fresh hell and will chase those in the federal government who are responsible for getting answers like they stole Christmas.”

Kennedy also said he would demand the investigative and homeland security agencies responsible that they “catch these people. Catch these people. And then tell the American people the truth.”

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