A recent discovery in a Texas storage unit has linked dangerous explosive materials to suspected ISIS inspirer, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, raising significant security concerns.
At a Glance
- FBI searched a storage unit in Harris County, Texas, linked to an ISIS suspect.
- The raid revealed sulfuric acid, a component used in making explosives.
- Jabbar’s ties to the Bourbon Street attack, leaving 14 dead, are suspected.
- Authorities assure no immediate threat to public safety.
Discovery Raises Alarm
The FBI, working alongside the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, executed a court-authorized search of a storage unit in Houston’s SpareBox Storage. This operation was part of the ongoing investigation into Shamsud-Din Jabbar’s violent New Year’s Eve attack in New Orleans. During the search, a cooler filled with commercially available bottles of sulfuric acid was found, pointing to possible use in bomb-making activities.
Located at SpareBox Storage on Walters Road, the unit’s connection to Jabbar comes as authorities unravel his terror campaign, emphasizing his shift towards targeting high-profile public areas for maximum media impact. Investigators have affirmed the materials posed no safety threat to the community.
BREAKING NEWS: FBI finds sulfuric acid bottles in Houston cooler similar to New Orleans attack. https://t.co/j0DLwR0wJk
— KPRC 2 Houston (@KPRC2) January 7, 2025
Bourbon Street Attack Connection
Jabbar’s New Orleans attack shocked the nation, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more. Surveillance footage exposed Jabbar placing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Bourbon Street’s vicinity. The explosives, identified as RDX, failed to detonate. This incident has drawn attention back to Jabbar’s extremist motivations, inspired by ISIS ideology, as he moved from targeting individuals to larger public areas.
Jabbar’s actions culminated in a high-speed crash into a crane, ending in a standoff where he was shot dead by police. Further investigation revealed that Jabbar set fire to his rental property in an attempt to destroy evidence, including bomb-making equipment and recordings expressing his terrorist motivations.
Community Response and Ongoing Investigations
Local residents expressed surprise and concern over the proximity of such activities. Houston resident Earnest Washington commented, “You wouldn’t believe that, you know, so close to home that this could be going on.” The typically quiet neighborhood now finds itself at the center of a high-stakes terrorism probe. Despite these concerns, FBI officials reiterate that there is no current threat to public safety.
The investigation continues as authorities seek further insights into ISIS-inspired actions in the United States, hoping to prevent future incidents fueled by extremist ideologies.
Sources:
- FBI finds cooler, sulfuric acid inside NW Harris County storage unit tied to New Orleans attack suspect
- Shamsud-Din Jabbar stored cooler filled with sulfuric acid in rented Texas storage unit before New Orleans terror attack: FBI
