Law Enforcement Prepares to Protect Key DC Events as New Orleans Terror Probe Continues
Law enforcement is in the thick of preparing for a string of high-profile events, including the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on January 20.
This year’s inauguration comes amid a heightened threat environment, after the terror attack in New Orleans early New Year’s Day by a member of Islamic State from Texas.
As the investigation continues into that attack, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released a new picture of the man who drove a pickup truck down Bourbon Street, killing at least 14 people and wounding dozens more.
The photo shows Shamsud-Din Jabbar riding a bicycle through the French Quarter on October 31, 2024. The FBI is asking for anyone in the Quarter that Halloween between 2pm and 6pm to contact them.
Meanwhile, agents digging into Jabbar’s background have not found any obvious red flags that were missed. The FBI says he acted alone and that Jabbar’s path to radicalization appears to be short, with the suspect joining Islamic State before last summer.
The attack occurred as the FBI is in transition. Director Christopher Wray plans to resign shortly before President-elect Trump takes office. Confirmation hearings are also expected to be tense for President-elect Trump’s nominee for FBI Director, Kash Patel.
Inauguration Preparations
Agents are also busy preparing for President-elect Trump’s inauguration on January 20, which comes on the heels of other high-profile events such as the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter on January 9 and a rally planned for President-elect Trump on January 19 at Capital One Arena.
At the inauguration, where President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance will be sworn in, there will be waves of security, some of which will be visible, others harder to spot like radiation detectors, snipers, and bomb detection devices.
The FBI also set up command posts to act as “central hubs for employees to gather intelligence, assess potential threats, coordinate investigations, and surge resources as needed.”
To complicate matters, President-elect Trump has invited some foreign leaders to attend his inauguration in an unusual step. At least one, Argentina President Javier Milei, plans to attend.
As of now there are no known threats, but law enforcement is staying vigilant and sharing intelligence with partner agencies. Law enforcement is also preparing for the possibility of demonstrations.