Concerns regarding potential copycat vehicle-ramming attacks have arisen among US law enforcement and intelligence agencies in the wake of a New Year’s Day incident in New Orleans involving a US Army veteran, as reported in an intelligence bulletin.
This bulletin was disseminated a day after the FBI identified Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a native of Texas, as someone who was “100% inspired” by the Islamic State militant group to drive a truck into a crowd of New Year’s Day celebrators in New Orleans, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 individuals and leaving many others injured.
The FBI noted that the 42-year-old had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group but carried out the attack independently.
He was later killed during a shootout with law enforcement.
The bulletin indicated that such attacks “are likely to remain appealing for potential attackers due to the easy accessibility of vehicles and the minimal skills required to execute an assault.”
It warned law enforcement personnel and private security entities to remain vigilant, as in numerous past incidents, attackers have utilized vehicles to ram crowds and subsequently continued their assaults with firearms or edged weapons.
The incident on January 1 in the crowded French Quarter of New Orleans marked the seventh attack in the United States since 2001 that drew inspiration from a foreign extremist organization, according to the bulletin.
While the use of “edged weapons” and guns has been increasingly prevalent in such attacks, the bulletin suggested that vehicles may pose an escalating danger.
In response to these concerns, authorities in several US cities have heightened security measures, including at Trump Tower and Times Square in New York City, although they stated there were no immediate threats.
In Washington, law enforcement reported an increased presence as the capital prepares to host three significant events this month.
These events include Congress certifying US President-elect Donald Trump’s election victory on January 6, the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter on January 9, and Mr. Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
