An alleged ISIS member is now in custody in Iraq in connection with the deadly New Year’s Day terror attack in New Orleans that left 14 people dead and dozens injured. The arrest, announced by the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation, marks a major development in the transnational investigation, as authorities confirm that the suspect played a role in radicalizing the man responsible for the vehicular assault in the French Quarter.
According to the report, the suspect—whose name has not yet been publicly released—is being held under Iraq’s anti-terrorism statutes and will be prosecuted in that country. The arrest is the result of close cooperation between U.S. federal law enforcement agencies and Iraqi counterterrorism authorities. Intelligence-sharing between the two governments has intensified since the attack, which stunned the nation and reignited concerns about domestic radicalization linked to international terror networks.
The attack occurred on January 1, when 31-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. Army sergeant from Texas, drove a rented pickup truck into packed crowds celebrating the New Year in the French Quarter. Witnesses describe a scene of chaos and horror as the truck sped through several blocks of pedestrians before crashing into a barricade. Jabbar was shot and killed by New Orleans police at the scene after he exited the vehicle wielding a knife and reportedly shouting phrases in Arabic linked to jihadist rhetoric.
Shortly after the incident, the FBI confirmed Jabbar was under investigation for suspected ties to extremist content online. He had reportedly shown signs of growing radicalization in the months leading up to the attack, including social media activity that aligned with ISIS propaganda and encrypted communications with overseas contacts.
Now, authorities believe one of those overseas contacts was the individual just arrested in Iraq. U.S. intelligence officials say the suspect served as a recruiter and digital handler for Jabbar, providing ideological support and encouragement to carry out an attack on American soil. While there is no evidence so far that the plot was directed or funded by ISIS leadership, officials describe the case as a classic example of “lone wolf” terrorism inspired by international jihadist ideology.
The arrest in Iraq is seen as a major breakthrough and a testament to global cooperation in the fight against terrorism. A senior FBI counterterrorism official states, “This arrest shows that even in the most challenging international environments, justice can be pursued. The radicalization and recruitment that led to the tragic events in New Orleans are unacceptable, and we will continue to dismantle these networks wherever they operate.”
Families of the victims—many of whom were tourists or local residents enjoying the holiday—have expressed cautious relief at the arrest. A memorial still stands at the site of the attack, and city officials have pledged to increase security for future large-scale public events.
Back in Texas, military officials confirm that Jabbar had served two tours overseas but had been placed under medical and psychological evaluation months before the incident. It is unclear how he maintained access to extremist content or whether warning signs were adequately acted upon by the Army or federal authorities prior to the attack.
The New Orleans terror attack marks one of the deadliest incidents tied to ISIS influence in the U.S. since the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting. It has reignited debates about homegrown extremism, the role of online radicalization, and the ongoing evolution of ISIS as a decentralized but ideologically potent threat.
As the investigation continues, the Department of Justice and the Department of Defense are also reviewing internal procedures regarding service member monitoring, foreign intelligence tracking, and digital threat detection. More arrests are not being ruled out, as officials comb through Jabbar’s digital footprint and international communication records.
