In a chilling incident that shook the nation, a New Year's Eve celebration on Bourbon Street in New Orleans was marred by a deadly vehicle attack. Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old consultant from Texas, plowed through a crowd of revelers, resulting in 14 fatalities and 30 injuries. Jabbar's rented truck displayed an ISIS flag, and authorities later discovered IEDs and firearms in his possession.

Leading up to the attack, Jabbar documented his journey from Houston to New Orleans with selfie videos, pledging allegiance to ISIS and outlining his shift from targeting family and friends to seeking wider attention through a public attack. His motive, as stated in the videos, was to contribute to what he perceived as a conflict between believers and non-believers.

This incident raises concerns about the resurgence of lone wolf attacks and the ease with which individuals can become radicalized. Despite having a stable career and being a U.S. Army veteran, Jabbar reportedly embraced extremist ideologies within a matter of weeks. Security measures in New Orleans are being reevaluated in the wake of this tragedy, and experts are warning of the potential for similar attacks.

The FBI has identified online ISIS propaganda as a potential source of Jabbar's radicalization. Jabbar's travel history includes trips to Cairo, Egypt, and Ontario, Canada, in 2023, and the FBI is investigating possible connections to these locations or potential associates.

Surveillance footage captured Jabbar an hour prior to the attack. (Federal Bureau of Investigation via AP)

While ISIS's physical caliphate was dismantled during the Trump administration, the group's online presence continues to pose a threat. Jabbar's videos suggest his affiliation with ISIS predates the summer of 2023. The FBI emphasizes the ongoing challenges posed by international, domestic, and state-sponsored terrorism.

An ISIS flag was recovered from Jabbar's vehicle. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

The investigation into Jabbar's radicalization continues. FBI Director Christopher Wray highlighted the difficulty in tracking individuals who radicalize rapidly and employ relatively unsophisticated attack methods. The limited digital footprint and short timeframe make it challenging to connect the dots and prevent such incidents.

Jabbar in a photo from social media. (1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division via Facebook via REUTERS)

Wray stressed the FBI's focus on lone wolf attacks, noting a heightened threat level for over a year. The method Jabbar used to display the ISIS flag – from the trailer hitch – mirrors an image in a 2017 ISIS propaganda poster that encouraged vehicular attacks.

Bourbon Street remained blocked off following the attack. (Audrey Conklin/Fox News Digital)

Vehicular attacks have been used in various terrorist incidents globally. The shift from large-scale, meticulously planned attacks to smaller, more impulsive acts of violence marks a change in terrorist strategy. ISIS's online presence, including propaganda videos and newsletters, continues to fuel radicalization even after the group's territorial defeat.

An ISIS flag. (REUTERS/Stringer)

The phenomenon of "loser-to-lion" syndrome, where individuals with little to lose seek meaning through acts of terror, presents a significant challenge for counter-terrorism efforts. Despite increased vigilance, attackers can still evade detection, as demonstrated by the New Year's Eve machete attack on NYPD officers in 2022 by Trevor Bickford, who had been on the FBI's radar.