FBI under fire after reporter films inside terror suspect's home days after attack
- The FBI raided the Houston home of Shamsud-Din Jabbar after he was identified as the driver in the New Orleans car attack.
- A journalist entered the unsecured home shortly after the FBI's first search, discovering significant evidence left behind.
- Lawmakers and the public have criticized the FBI for their failure to secure the home between searches, leading to increased scrutiny.
In the wake of a tragic car attack on January 1, 2025, in New Orleans, which claimed the lives of 14 and injured numerous others, the FBI investigated the last known residence of the suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, an individual identified as the driver responsible for the incident. Following this, the FBI conducted a thorough search of Jabbar's Houston home, uncovering bomb-making materials and other potential evidence linked to the attack. Local news outlets reported that they arrived at the property on New Year’s Day prior to the investigators, signaling a concerning sequence of events that raised questions regarding the security measures employed by federal agents in high-stakes investigations such as this one. Less than eight hours after the initial FBI search concluded, a New York Post reporter entered the property, whose video walkthrough reported the discovery of items including a Quran, computers, and materials that appeared to be part of a bomb-making setup. This situation sparked outrage among lawmakers and led to scrutiny of the FBI's operational protocols, with one senator expressing dissatisfaction over the unsecured condition of the premises. The FBI later confirmed that they executed a second search of the home due to the serious implications and evidence left behind after the first raid. Ongoing investigations into both the attack and the FBI's handling of the situation reveal significant public concern over federal procedures and accountability during investigations that involve potential terrorist threats.