In the early hours of New Year's Day, Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a rented Ford F-150 Lightning electric truck into a large crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people and injuries to dozens more. Following the initial attack, Jabbar exited the vehicle and engaged in a gunfight with police officers, during which he was fatally shot by law enforcement. Two police officers were injured in the exchange of gunfire. Multiple improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found in the truck and around the vicinity. That's a typical multi-prong attack strategy of terrorist groups to kill first responders after an attack is initiated. Shamsud-Din Jabbar recorded videos claiming allegiance to ISIS, according to authorities.

What we know about the terrorist:

-Jabbar was a 42-year-old Muslim U.S. citizen from Texas.

-He was an Army veteran, having served in both active duty and the reserves.

-He held a degree in Computer Information Systems from Georgia State University.

-His criminal history was limited, including a misdemeanor theft charge and a DUI. He had been married twice and had children.

-He worked in human resources and real estate.

Motive:

-An ISIS flag was found in the truck, prompting authorities to investigate potential links to sleeper terrorist cells in the U.S.

-The FBI is examining Jabbar's radicalization and if there were accomplices, a possible sleeper cell.

Other Factors:

-The attack occurred while repairs were ongoing to the city's bollard system, designed to prevent vehicle access in pedestrian areas.

-Questions have been raised about whether these ongoing repairs created vulnerabilities that allowed the attack to occur.

Investigation:

The FBI took over the investigation on Wednesday, New Year's Day, after initially contradicting the New Orleans Mayor, who stated this was a terrorist attack. The FBI spokeswoman said unequivocally at the time that this was not a terrorist attack.

Authorities are also investigating any possible connection between the New Orleans attack and a separate incident in Las Vegas where a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside a Trump hotel.