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The devastating New Year's Eve car attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans claimed the lives of 15 revelers and left the city grappling with shock and sorrow.
Now, the assailant's brother, Abdur Jabbar, has come forward to shed light on the motives behind the tragedy, attributing his sibling's actions to radicalization rather than religious beliefs.
Speaking with The New York Times, Abdur emphasized that his brother's actions were not reflective of Islam, a religion rooted in peace.
"What he did does not represent Islam," Abdur said. "This is more some type of radicalization, not religion."
Despite his brother's horrific actions, Abdur described Shamsud-Din Jabbar as a once-kind and intelligent man who had lost his way.
Troubling details of the attack
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 32-year-old Army veteran from Texas, carried out the attack using a rented Ford F-150 Lightning EV pickup truck adorned with an ISIS flag. Witnesses described the chaotic scene as he plowed into a crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street, turning a festive night into a nightmare.
Before the attack, Shamsud-Din posted disturbing videos on Facebook, pledging allegiance to ISIS and itting plans to harm his family.
Authorities believe these videos were recorded during his drive from Houston to Louisiana, with the pickup truck later becoming a weapon of destruction.
The FBI is now investigating whether Shamsud-Din acted independently or had accomplices.
"This was not an act of faith but of radical ideology," said a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation.
Shamsud-Din's transformation from a caring family man into a radicalized individual has left his family in disbelief. Abdur described his brother as "a sweetheart really, a nice guy, a friend, really smart, caring."
However, his descent into extremism marked a turning point that culminated in the New Year's tragedy.
Twice divorced, Shamsud-Din was a father to two daughters, aged 15 and 20, with his ex-wife Nakedra Charrlle.
While family tried to reconcile the person they knew with the man who committed the heinous act, it was clear that his radicalization had created an unbridgeable gap.