New Orleans attack: FBI seize vehicle in Bourbon Street attack investigation

HOUSTON - The FBI Houston office reports they are continuing to assist in the investigation of the New Year's Day terrorist attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

Investigators began an hours-long search of the suspect's home after receiving a court-authorized warrant and concluded the search on Thursday.

However, the FBI and Harris County Sheriff's Office officials returned to the area on Friday to seize a vehicle near the home as part of the ongoing investigation.

Bomb-making materials found

The FBI announced Friday bomb-making materials were found inside the home of 42-year-old suspect Shamsud-Din Jabbar, according to a release.

As of Thursday, officials say all evidence recovered along Bourbon Street and a short-term rental home on Mandevill Street in New Orleans 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 during the search of Jabbar's home on Crescent Peak Drive in Houston.

New Orleans attack: Bomb squad returns to killer's Houston home

Local authorities returned to the home of the New Orleans killer in Houston on Friday.

Fire set as part of attack

On New Year's Day 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 Jabbar was the only person who could have had access to the home when the fire was set.

The ATF also determined 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.

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, officials said.

New Orleans attack: Timeline of movements ahead of attack

We're starting to get a clearer picture of how the terror attack in New Orleans occurred.

What happened in New Orleans?

Fourteen people were killed and dozens more were injured when Jabbar intentionally drove down Bourbon Street early New Year's Day, authorities say.

"He was hellbent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did," New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said Wednesday.

MORE: Failed businesses, marriages & debt: What Texas records show on New Orleans attack suspect

According to Kirkpatrick, around 3:15 a.m., the man drove a pickup truck around the barricades blocking Bourbon Street and drove down the street at a fast pace, "trying to run over as many people as he possibly could."

Jonathan Mejia reports live from New Orleans after Bourbon street reopens

**EDITORS NOTE: Video from a previous story.** FOX 26's Jonathan Mejia reports on Bourbon Street reopening to the public and the city returning to a new sense of normalcy.

Once the driver crashed, he opened fire on officers, Kirkpatrick said. Two officers were struck and taken to the hospital in stable condition.

The FBI says officers returned fire, and Jabbar died at the scene.

Raia said the attack was "an act of terrorism" and was "premeditated and an evil act."

Who is Shamsud-Din Jabbar?

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Shamsud-Din Jabbar (Photo provided by FBI)

The FBI identified the New Orleans truck attack suspect as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar.

According to the FBI, he is a U.S.-born citizen from Texas and an Army veteran. According to Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Jabbar is from the Houston-area.

Patrick says Jabbar rented the pickup truck on Monday and had been driving the rented vehicle in Houston before heading to New Orleans.

According to an Army Spokesperson, Jabbar was in the Army as a Human Resource Specialist (42A) and Information Technology (IT) Specialist (25B) from March 2007 until January 2015. He was then in the Army Reserve as an IT Specialist (25B) from January 2015 until July 2020.

The spokesperson says he deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010.

At the end of his service, he held the rank of Staff Sergeant, the spokesperson said.