A US Army veteran, the suspect in the New Orleans attack was decorated with a counter-terrorism medal for his service in Afghanistan.
A multi-decorated veteran. The suspect in the vehicle-ramming attack in New Orleans, which left at least fifteen dead and 35 injured on New Year's Eve, is a former soldier in the US army.
Shamsud-Din Jabbar served in the Army from 2007 to 2015, including a deployment to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010, finishing as a master sergeant, according to the US Department of Defense.
In this capacity, the 42-year-old received multiple decorations, including the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, report several American media including Fox News and the Wall Street Journal. This medal, created in 2003 by President George W. Bush, rewards soldiers deployed in the “war on terrorism” after the September 11 attacks.
“Radicalisation”
Returning from his mission, Shamsud-Din Jabbar remained a reservist in the army, from 2015 to 2020. He also completed a computer science diploma and became a real estate agent, as shown in a video published in 2020 on YouTube in which he recommends his services.
His brother, Abdur Jabbar, told the New York Times that the suspect converted to Islam at a young age, emphasizing “what he did does not represent Islam. It is more about a form of radicalization.
US President Joe Biden explained that “just a few hours before the attack”, the suspect had “published videos on social networks indicating that he was inspired by Daesh” and showing a “desire to kill “.
