A deadly New Year's celebration in New Orleans turned tragic when a terrorist wielding Meta's latest smart glasses technology carried out a devastating attack.
According to Breitbart News, FBI officials revealed that Shamsud-Din Jabbar utilized Meta smart glasses during his reconnaissance and subsequent terror attack on Bourbon Street that killed 14 people and wounded 35 others in the early hours of January 1, 2025.
The FBI's investigation uncovered that Jabbar had conducted detailed surveillance of the French Quarter months before the attack using Meta's smart glasses technology. Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil confirmed that while Jabbar wore the glasses during the attack, he did not activate their livestreaming capability at that time.
The smart glasses, developed through a partnership between Meta and Ray-Ban, have sparked debates about privacy implications due to their discreet recording capabilities. These devices allow users to capture photos and videos hands-free, with the potential for real-time streaming of the wearer's perspective.
FBI Special Agent Myrthil elaborated on Jabbar's use of the technology, stating:
Meta glasses appear to look like regular glasses, but they allow a user to record videos and [take] photos hand-free. They also allow the user to potentially livestream their video.
The investigation revealed that Jabbar made multiple visits to New Orleans in the months leading up to the attack. He conducted surveillance operations during these trips, including recording footage while cycling through the French Quarter in October 2024.
Law enforcement officials have reconstructed a precise timeline of events leading to the tragic incident. Jabbar entered Louisiana on December 31 at approximately 2:30 p.m., renting a vehicle that was later spotted in Gonzales around 9:00 p.m.
By 10:00 p.m., security cameras captured Jabbar unloading a white pickup truck at a rental property on Mandeville Street in New Orleans. In the early hours of New Year's Day, he methodically placed two IEDs in coolers along Bourbon Street between 1:53 a.m. and 2:20 a.m.
Special Agent Myrthil provided crucial details about the attack's progression:
Jabbar placed the first IED in the cooler at Bourbon and St. Peters Street at 1:53 a.m. Someone on Bourbon Street, who we have no reason to believe was involved, dragged the cooler a block to Bourbon and Orleans, where our team found it after the attack.
The FBI investigation has revealed a disturbing pattern of premeditation in Jabbar's actions. Beginning with his October visit, he utilized Meta's smart glasses technology to conduct detailed surveillance of the area, staying at a rental property while mapping out potential targets.
The attack culminated in multiple phases, including the placement of explosive devices and the use of a pickup truck as a weapon. At approximately 3:15 a.m., Jabbar's rampage ended when he crashed into construction equipment and was stopped by New Orleans Police Department officers.
A subsequent fire reported at 5:00 a.m. at Jabbar's rental property on Mandeville Street led to the discovery of additional explosive devices. Investigators confirmed that Jabbar had deliberately set the fire before beginning his attack on Bourbon Street.
The New Orleans New Year's attack demonstrated how readily available consumer technology can be repurposed for malicious intent. Shamsud-Din Jabbar's use of Meta smart glasses for surveillance and attack planning has highlighted the dual-use nature of modern wearable technology. The FBI continues to investigate this tragic incident that claimed 14 lives and injured 35 others while examining the broader implications of surveillance technology in terrorist activities.
