The deadly terrorist attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans on New Year's Day has amplified concerns over the growing threat of extremism within the U.S. military.
The primary suspect in the deadly assault, a former military service member, has reignited fears about the potential for radicalization among active-duty personnel and veterans.
Despite years of efforts by the Pentagon and lawmakers to root out extremism within the armed forces, the attack underscores a persistent vulnerability that officials have struggled to eliminate.
This tragic incident highlights the urgency of addressing radicalization within military ranks and raises questions about the effectiveness of current measures designed to prevent the spread of extremist ideologies among service members.
As the investigation unfolds, it is becoming increasingly clear that the issue of extremism in the military is far from resolved, with broader implications for national security and military readiness.
"The military has not adequately addressed the problem, whether it's white supremacists or Islamic extremists," Heidi Beirich, a co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, told The Hill. "These cases are a reminder of how important it is that people with potential to become extreme aren't trained in military tactics."
The suspect in the attack is believed to have acted alone in a "premeditated and evil act."
The latest information from the FBI indicates that 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar rented a truck in Houston and posted videos on social media expressing his allegiance to ISIS before plowing into pedestrians on Bourbon Street, killing 14 people and injuring 35.
Authorities recovered an ISIS flag from the truck and bomb-making materials from Jabbar's residence in Houston.
Jabbar's brother told The Associated Press that he had increasingly isolated himself from family and friends in the last few years, but no one noticed any signs of radicalization when they talked.
As reported by the AP, Jabbar enlisted in the Army in 2007, where he served in human resources and information technology, and was deployed to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010. He transitioned to the Army Reserve in 2015 and left in 2020 with the rank of staff sergeant.
In a separate incident on New Year's Day, a decorated special forces soldier, Matthew Livelsberger, died in an apparent suicide and vehicle bombing of a Trump hotel in Las Vegas. Livelsberger shot himself inside a Tesla Cybertruck packed with fireworks and gas-filled tanks before it exploded outside the hotel. The incident, which came hours after the attack in New Orleans, sparked speculation of a link -- but investigations suggest they are separate. Livelsberger was the only fatality in the blast; seven others were injured.