Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia, Counterterrorism Division

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Remarks as prepared for delivery

Good afternoon, thank you for being here today with the FBI and our partners. Today, we are going to give you the latest update on the FBI’s investigation into the Bourbon Street Attack on New Year’s Day. First and foremost, I know I speak for the FBI and our first responders when I say that we do this for the victims and their families—even though we know that nothing we can do will take away their pain and grief, what we can and are doing, is investigating every detail of this attack to find answers. We are leaving no stone unturned.   
 
Before I turn it over to FBI New Orleans SAC Myrthil, I am going to talk a little bit about the overall global and national counterterrorism threat as I think it is important to understand that as it relates to the current investigation. Make no mistake, protecting the American people from terrorism remains the FBI’s number-one priority. The threats from international terrorism, domestic terrorism, and state-sponsored terrorism are complex and persistent—and notably, they are all simultaneously elevated. We continually face threats from foreign terrorist organizations, violent extremists across the ideological spectrum, and criminal actors that aim to bring violence to the United States.

During the past few years, lone actors or small cells of individuals who typically radicalize to violence online and who primarily use easily accessible weapons have posed the greatest terrorism threat to our homeland. Lone actors present a particular challenge to law enforcement and intelligence because they are difficult to identify, investigate, and disrupt—especially when their radicalization and communication with other like-minded individuals happens online as is believed to be the case with the New Orleans attacker, Shamsud Din Jabbar. For the past several years, the FBI has provided intelligence to our law enforcement partners highlighting that ISIS calls for vehicle-ramming attacks. This is a tactic that has been used for many years to conduct deadly attacks on U.S. soil and in other countries.   
 
Over the last year, we saw multiple plots in the U.S. that we were able to disrupt along with our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners. Those include plots in September and October in Oklahoma City and New York City, respectfully. The FBI continues to work tirelessly to combat the threat of terrorism, and that includes constantly working with and communicating with our state, local, and federal partners—whether that is sharing intelligence and information or day-to-day coordination on an investigation. And in New Orleans, this is exactly what the FBI and our partners have done since day one.  
 
As it relates to this investigation, all investigative details and evidence that we have now still support Jabbar acted alone in New Orleans. We have not seen any indications of an accomplice in the United States, but we are still looking into potential associates in the U.S. and outside our borders. In any complex terrorism investigation, as we uncover new leads, receive tips from the public, examine electronic devices, and interview witnesses, the information as we know it evolves into a clearer picture and provides more answers. We are much further along than we were just two days ago and continue to develop a more detailed picture of exactly who Jabbar was.  
 
I also want to take a moment to thank the public for your help so far—you have provided tips that help us piece together this investigation. I don’t think the majority of the public knows just how critical their information has been for the FBI in high profile investigations like this one.  Their tips and information have been instrumental in the most significant terrorism investigations that have occurred in the last 20 years, so thank you. 
 
The FBI continues to surge resources from across the country to assist the New Orleans Field Office. In addition to FBI special agents and personnel based here  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. FBI offices across the country have also assisted, to include executing search warrants, analyzing evidence, and interviewing associates. Additionally, the entire Counterterrorism Division at Headquarters, along with other Headquarters divisions and the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group, including assets such as the Hostage Rescue Team, continue to work around the clock supporting New Orleans and the other field offices involved in this investigation. 

We are not done investigating—the FBI will continue to dig in and investigate to learn all that we can about this despicable attack, on behalf of the victims and for their loved ones. 
 
Thank you all, now I’m going to turn it over to New Orleans SAC Lyonel Myrthil. He is going to give you an update on the latest details of the investigation.