The F.B.I and the Department of Homeland Security issued a joint bulletin warning the 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the US of potential copycats seeking to imitate the devastating New Year’s Day attack on New Orleansaccording to ABC News.

The bulletin was sent out in an abundance of caution to alert law enforcement agencies across the country to be on the lookout for any activity that indicates the use of vehicles as a method of causing mass casualties.

“We advise federal, state, local, tribal and territorial government and law enforcement officials and private sector security partners to remain vigilant for potential copycat attacks or retaliation inspired by this attack and other recent, fatal embolism incidents around the worldsaid the bulletin sent by the authorities.

The bulletin notes that ISIS has been promoting the use of vehicles as a weapon of terror since around 2014.

Sources told ABC News that ISIS has stepped up calls for its supporters to launch low-tech, mass-casualty attacks in recent months, especially since the most recent Israel-Hamas conflict began in October 2023.

The New Orleans suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbara 42-year-old Army veteran and American-born citizen from Texas, drove from Houston to New Orleans on Tuesday night and posted several videos online “declaring his support for ISIS” and reporting that he joined ISIS before this summer, said the FBI’s deputy assistant director, Christopher Raya.

“Authorities should be aware that in many cases the perpetrators have carried out attacks with secondary weapons and may continue to attack with weapons, firearms or IEDs.”the bulletin said. “The tactic could be ‘attractive’ to foreign terrorist organizations and other actors because of its low level of sophistication”the warning said.

The bulletin offered advice on the danger signs of upcoming attacks to look out for, including the use of pre-operational surveillance, fake ID or credit documents for rental vehicles, online calls for violence or unusually placed objects that could hide an improvised explosive device.

The bulletin said Jabbar inspired by ISISbut that there is no evidence of partners. A senior law enforcement official said so far there is no indication that ISIS has claimed responsibility for the New Orleans attack.

Feast for ISIS supporters

Information from the New York Police Department, as reported by ABC News, indicates that ISIS supporters celebrated the attack on the Internet. The violent extremists “continue to see crowded corridors, parades, mass gatherings and other outdoor street events, especially during the holidays, as opportunities of vulnerable targets’.

Surveillance footage showed Jabbar planting two improvised explosive devices in coolers in the Bourbon Street area, Raya said. He had a remote detonator in the truck to set off the two devices, Biden said. Both devices were made safe, officials said.

Bomb-making materials were found at Jabbar’s Houston home, sources confirmed. The items found were also referred to as “precursor chemicals” by agents in the field.

Bourbon Street has reopened

Authorities cleared and reopened Bourbon Street Thursday as the investigation continued. The mayor of New Orleans LaToya Cantrell said authorities were “confident” about reopening the area to the public ahead of Thursday afternoon’s Sugar Bowl, originally scheduled for Wednesday but postponed after the attack.

“I want to reassure the public that the city of New Orleans is not only ready for game day today, but we are ready to continue hosting large-scale events in our city.”he said. “Our hearts and prayers continue to go out to the families of the victims,” Cantrell added.

“There is no apparent direct link between the New Orleans attack and Wednesday’s Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas, which is also being investigated as a possible terrorist attack”the FBI’s Raia said Thursday.