Investigators are currently looking into the New Year's Day terror attack in New Orleans, where suspect Shamsud-Din Jabbar reportedly flew an ISIS flag on the back of the pick-up truck he used to carry out the attack. Jabbar, a former Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, joined ISIS before the summer and posted videos on Facebook declaring support for the group prior to the attack.
ISIS, or the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, is a breakaway terrorist group from al-Qaeda that has conducted and inspired terrorist attacks worldwide. The group embraces Sunni Islamist ideology and seeks to establish a global caliphate governed by strict Sharia law. Under the leadership of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, ISIS seized significant territory in Iraq and Syria by 2014.
While ISIS has been significantly weakened in recent years, it remains a global threat. The group has inspired several terror attacks in the United States, including the 2016 Pulse Nightclub massacre in Orlando, the 2015 San Bernardino shooting, the 2017 NYC bike path attack, the 2016 Ohio State University attack, and the 2017 New York City subway bomber incident.
Experts believe that ISIS continues to inspire "lone wolf" attacks carried out by sympathizers who blur the line between random crime and terrorism. The group's decentralized nature and powerful brand have led armed extremist organizations in Africa, Asia, and Europe to swear allegiance to it.
It is important to remain vigilant against the threat of ISIS-inspired attacks and to continue working towards preventing future incidents. The investigation into the New Orleans terror attack is ongoing, and authorities are working to gather more information about the suspect and his motives.