FBI declines to say if disciplinary agent will be fired, says attack ‘not a terrorist incident’
The FBI has remained silent on whether it will fire or discipline the agent who initially told the media and public that the shocking New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans was “not a terrorist incident,” but the agency quickly backtracked, reporting Said the attack took place in the United States.
Fox Digital News contacted the FBI press office and press secretary on Thursday and Friday to ask if Alicia Duncan, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s New Orleans field office, would be fired over her initial claims that the attack was not related to terrorism. Facing dismissal or disciplinary action. Fox Digital also called the FBI press office Friday morning but was unable to leave any message about the investigation because the voicemail box was full.
As chaos erupted on Bourbon Street early Wednesday morning as New Year’s revelers celebrated the holiday, Duncan spoke at a news conference and declared that the attack was not related to terrorism.
“We will take over the investigation of this incident. This was not a terrorist incident,” Duncan said at a news conference.
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FBI Special Agent Alesha Duncan told the public at a news conference that the attack in New Orleans was not related to terrorism. (Reuters)
However, at the same press conference, the mayor of New Orleans told the media and the public that the city had indeed suffered a terrorist attack.
“Know new orleans affected by terrorist attacks. This is all still under investigation,” LaToya Cantrell, a Democrat who has served as mayor since 2018, said at a news conference.
On Thursday, the FBI responded to Fox Digital’s criticism of Duncan’s initial assessment that the attack was not related to terrorism, detailing to Fox Digital that on the day of the attack, the FBI issued three separate statements, all saying : The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism.
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“This morning, a man drove his car into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing multiple people and injuring dozens of others. The perpetrator later negotiated with local law enforcement and is now dead. The FBI is the main person responsible.” “We are working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism,” the FBI said in a statement provided to Fox Digital.
Duncan also stated at a subsequent press conference that the attack was being investigated as a terrorist act.
The FBI confirmed this week that the suspect, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, had an ISIS flag in his truck at the time of the attack. The FBI added Thursday that Jabbar was “inspired” by ISIS, but that they found no evidence that he was directed by ISIS to carry out the atrocities.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry speaks to the media during a press conference in New Orleans on January 1, 2025. (Photo by Chris Grayson/Getty Images)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a 42-year-old Army veteran from Texas, died after exchanging gunfire with police after driving a truck through a crowd.
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Conservative lawmakers, Trump allies and voters have criticized the FBI’s handling of the investigation, including Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who believes the FBI is more focused on DEI practices than fighting crime.
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“The FBI’s mission is to never fail. There is no room for error. When they fail, Americans die. Kash Patel must be confirmed as soon as possible,” said a source close to President-elect Donald Trump Close sources added Thursday morning’s numbers while being criticized by Fox News.
