Following the devastating New Year's Day attack on Bourbon Street where a truck plowed into revelers, killing 14, federal authorities have issued a nationwide alert for potential copycat attacks. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security circulated a bulletin to approximately 18,000 law enforcement agencies, urging vigilance against similar vehicle-ramming incidents. While the bulletin doesn't cite specific intelligence, it underscores the need for heightened awareness, particularly among uniformed personnel.

The alleged perpetrator, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, died in a shootout with police after the attack. The FBI has released surveillance images showing Jabbar an hour before the incident, walking near the French Quarter. Additional images depict coolers Jabbar allegedly planted on the street, containing improvised explosive devices intended to amplify the devastation. Authorities are confident Jabbar acted alone, shifting the investigation's focus to his radicalization process. Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran and former six-figure earner, had recently posted pro-ISIS videos online and left a will.

The incident has sparked criticism of Mayor LaToya Cantrell's leadership and security measures in the French Quarter. Meanwhile, Bourbon Street has reopened, and the Sugar Bowl game proceeded after a one-day postponement. The city is preparing for the upcoming Joan of Arc parade and Mardi Gras festivities.

Investigators are examining Jabbar's background, including his 2023 trips to Egypt and Toronto. They are also searching a New Orleans Airbnb he rented and his Houston home. A half-brother revealed Jabbar's struggles with identity and his return to Islam after a 2022 divorce, attributing the attack to radicalization. The FBI confirmed Jabbar's military service, including a deployment to Afghanistan, and his declaration of allegiance to ISIS prior to last summer.

Surveillance footage captured Shamsud-Din Jabbar approximately one hour before the attack. (Federal Bureau of Investigation via AP)

Shamsud-Din Jabbar. (Abdur Rahim-Jabbar)

A cooler containing an IED placed near the attack site. (FBI)

Mourners pay tribute to the victims. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Increased military presence in New Orleans. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

A man prays near the attack site. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Police presence at the scene. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

An ISIS flag found at the scene. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Cleaning up the aftermath. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Increased security measures at the Sugar Bowl. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Security checks at the Superdome. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

SWAT teams on patrol. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Investigating the scene. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)