Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has argued the fact that the New Orleans FBI special agent in charge should be terminated after claiming the New Year’s Day vehicular attack was not an act of terrorism.
42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar drove his truck through a crowd of people celebrating New Year’s Day at Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana—killing at least 14 people and severely injuring dozens more. Jabbar was killed in a subsequent shootout with police officers.
Although multiple improvised explosive devices were discovered after the attack, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Alethea Duncan said that it was “not a terrorist event.”
In response, Patrick said that Alethea’s characterization of the massacre was “idiotic.”
“As acting Governor, earlier this morning, I spoke to our law enforcement to learn what we knew about the Texas license plate that was reported on the truck involved in the deadly terrorist attack in New Orleans,” Patrick posted on X.
Patrick serves as acting governor when Gov. Greg Abbott is out of state, as he was in Atlanta for the Peach Bowl.
Patrick also said that even at that time, Texas law enforcement officials had enough information to conclude that the attack was indeed an act of terrorism. Additionally, he said that the possession of an ISIS flag sends a clear message itself.
“The idea that the FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge in New Orleans said this morning that this was not a terrorist attack is shocking, idiotic, and alarming,” he stated. He also asserted that the incident “should be reason for the agent’s termination.”
Patrick argued that while there are many great agents in the FBI, “it’s clear, leadership is lacking at the highest level of the FBI, and major reform is needed. I spoke to President Trump this morning about the attack and told him he can’t get to the Oval Office soon enough.”
The truck used in the attack reportedly crossed the border at Eagle Pass late last year. Jabbar was a U.S. citizen from Texas.
Gov. Greg Abbott stated that he is working closely with the Texas Department of Public Safety to ensure that no one in this state faces similar threats.
“I am treating this as a terrorist attack and will work closely with the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas National Guard, and law enforcement at every level to ensure we know exactly what happened, that the danger is contained, and that every detail is analyzed to make sure there is no other attack like this,” he said.
