New Orleans attack: Bomb making materials found in attacker's home in Houston

HOUSTON - The Federal Bureau of Investigation has announced that bomb making materials were found inside the home of 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, according to a release. 

In the release, officials said they are working diligently to further the investigation and evaluate evidence, interview victims, and analyze tips related to the attack on Bourbon Street. 

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: FBI, Harris County officials return to home of Shamsud-Din Jabbar to collect evidence

Officials said that two days into the investigation, the FBI has received almost 1,000 tips, and leads have been sent to FBI Field Offices across the country for investigation. 

FBI officials stated that as of Thursday, January 2, all evidence recovery along Bourbon Street and a short-term rental home on Mandevill Street in New Orleans, that was used by Jabbar, has been completed. 

While at the Mandeville Street location, FBI officials said bomb making materials, which were rendered safe, and other items were found and collected for further processing. 

FBI special agents located similar materials at the search of Jabbar's home on Crescent Peak Drive in Houston. 

Officials also said that on January 1, at 5:18 a.m., the New Orleans Fire Department responded to a fire at the Mandeville Street Location after the attack on Bourbon Street. 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) determined that Jabbar was the only person who could have had access to the home when the fire was set. 

Shamsud-Din Jabbar (Photo provided by FBI)

The ATF also determined that Jabbar set a small fire in the hallway, and strategically placed accelerants throughout the house in his effort to destroy it and other evidence of his crime.

However, officials said that after Jabbar left the home, the fire burned to a point that it extinguished itself, prior to spreading to other rooms, allowing for recovery of evidence, including pre-cursors for bomb making material and a privately made device suspected of being a silencer for a rifle. 

Evidence collected from multiple sites are being evaluated to further the investigation. The FBI said that during his attack on Bourbon Street, Jabbar intended to use a transmitter, that was found in the F150 truck, to detonate the two IED’s he placed on Bourbon Street. The transmitter, along with 2 firearms connected to Jabbar, is being transported to the FBI Laboratory for additional testing as well as clothing and shell casings from the truck. FBI personnel are also evaluating terabytes worth of video and other data collected by street cameras monitored by the New Orleans Real Time Crime Center.

The FBI said they are continuing to surge resources from across the country to assist the New Orleans Field Office. In addition to FBI special agents and personnel based in Louisiana, more than 200 additional personnel have been brought in to assist in this investigation in order to process evidence, support victims, and investigate leads and tips. Personnel support includes, but is not limited to, special agents, victim specialists, evidence technicians, specially trained crisis management personnel, and intelligence analysts.

The FBI says the number of victims killed in the attack remains at 14 people with 35 people injured. Officials said they expect the number of injured to rise as additional people either take themselves to hospitals with injuries or ask for assistance from the FBI.

The investigation into the attack is ongoing and officials said they will provide additional details as necessary.