According to experts, the chances of a terrorist incident occurring during the Super Bowl in New Orleans are minimal, even as security fears mount following the recent attack on New Year’s Day in the city, as reported by a 9/11 responder in an interview with The U.S. Sun.
Excitement is in the air as thousands of eager fans are anticipated to converge at the 83,000-capacity Caesars Superdome for the highly anticipated game on February 9.
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The eagerly awaited event is set to unfold just weeks after an incident where Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a Ford F-150 into a crowd celebrating New Year’s on Bourbon Street.
Following that event in Louisiana, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Despite pre-existing security measures for the prestigious football game, these recent incidents have intensified safety concerns.
Bryan Stern, a 9/11 responder and veteran combat soldier, noted that there is likely considerable anxiety among various security agencies regarding safety protocols.
“If I were part of Homeland Security, the FBI, or working in private security, I’d certainly be on high alert,” he stated.
“The Super Bowl is an ideal target.”
He elaborated that numerous security challenges currently face the U.S. in the lead-up to the event.
Stern had previously condemned U.S. foreign policy for creating domestic issues and highlighted a shift in attitudes toward law enforcement practices.
He also indicated an increase in strange drone activity across the Northeastern U.S., which has raised security concerns.
“That’s not a promising sign, but rest assured, high-level units will be present at the Super Bowl,” he reassured.
New Orleans attacker was filmed preparing a truck with weapons and an ISIS flag mere hours before fatally wounding 14 people
While the Super Bowl remains an attractive target due to its extensive viewership, Stern discussed factors that may deter attacks.
“If I were a criminal, I wouldn’t choose to strike the Super Bowl because it’s crucial to succeed,” he remarked.
“Failing in such a high-profile situation would be catastrophic.”
Who was Shamsud Din Jabbar?
SHAMSUD DIN JABBAR, a 42-year-old identified as having driven into a crowd of New Year’s Eve revelers in New Orleans.
Officials suspect he killed 14 individuals in what has been classified as a terrorist act before the police shot him dead.
Further details are surfacing about the U.S. Army veteran, originally from Texas.
Jabbar had a criminal record, having been arrested in Katy, Texas, back in 2002 for misdemeanor theft.
In 2005, he faced another arrest for driving without a valid license.
Documents reviewed by The U.S. Sun show that Jabbar had a real estate license from 2019 until it expired in February 2021.
In a YouTube video posted on May 12, 2020, Jabbar introduced himself as a Team Lead for the Midas Group and Property Manager at Blue Meadow Properties.
He mentioned that he was from Beaumont, Texas, but was living in Houston at the time of the video.
Jabbar served in the Army for ten years as a human resources specialist and IT specialist from 2007 to 2015, including a deployment to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010.
He continued serving in the Army Reserve as an IT specialist until 2020, as reported by the Army.
Jabbar was a father of two daughters and had two ex-wives.
Details about his second divorce remain unclear, but court records indicate a restraining order was issued against him in 2020.
The New York Times reported that court documents from a divorce case in August 2022 revealed he was employed at Deloitte, earning approximately $120,000 annually.
Upon investigation, authorities found an ISIS flag attached to the truck he used during the attack, as confirmed by the FBI.
Reports suggest that Jabbar converted to Islam less than a year ago, and assertions from his ex-wife’s new partner depicted him as behaving “erratically,” according to the New York Times.
“A major barrier for potential attackers at the Super Bowl is the steep ticket prices,” he noted.
“This significantly diminishes the frequency of attacks at the event.”
“Affording access to the Super Bowl is expensive, and bringing in banned items poses considerable difficulty.”
Stern has previously pointed out that the U.S. has become sidetracked in the war on terrorism.
“There is a widespread misconception that a bad guy cannot be an American,” he cautioned.
“In our current digital age, radicalization can happen with just a smartphone.
“The path to becoming a terrorist is fundamentally the same, no matter if you are from Texas or Kazakhstan.”
Nonetheless, NFL officials are taking steps to reassure fans about the extensive security measures in place for the Super Bowl.
“The NFL, together with the local host committee, has been working in collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies for the past two years to develop comprehensive security strategies,” they confirmed.
The Sugar Bowl game, featuring Georgia and Notre Dame, saw a heightened security presence at the Superdome.
Even though the match was postponed by a day, it was held as planned on Thursday.
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As part of heightened security measures, additional personnel from the Louisiana National Guard and law enforcement from across the state have been assigned to the area.
The NFL has expressed confidence regarding the event’s safety.
A state of emergency has been declared in Louisiana following the attack, empowering Governor Jeff Landry to utilize all available security resources.
During preparations for the Sugar Bowl, snipers were positioned on rooftops surrounding the Superdome.
The FBI, along with bomb-sniffing dogs, have been deployed to ensure safety at the upcoming football game.
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick announced that security protocols will be intensified in anticipation of the Super Bowl.
TRAGEDY UNFOLDS
New Orleans is making preparations to host the Super Bowl for the 11th time.
The last occasion the city hosted the event was in 2013.
Meanwhile, the FBI’s investigation into the attack is ongoing.
Surveillance footage captured Jabbar loading his truck with explosives prior to the incident.
The vehicle was parked near his rental Airbnb, which is located not far from Bourbon Street.
Jabbar rented the truck on December 30 using the Turo app.
He drove over 300 miles from Houston to New Orleans the next day.
The attack took place around 3:15 a.m. local time, with investigators later finding pro-ISIS material on Jabbar’s social media accounts.
Authorities uncovered that Jabbar had been radicalized following his military service.
After the harrowing event, Jabbar was shot dead by police, who recovered explosives and an ISIS banner from the truck.
Initially, investigators considered the possibility of multiple assailants, but evidence now suggests that Jabbar acted alone.
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