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December 02, 2024
Updated: January 02, 2025
The deadly New Year’s attack in New Orleans, Louisiana, left a city reeling and social media awash in hateful lies and conspiracy theories about immigrants, Israel and a government cover-up.
In the early morning of January 1, 2025, 42-year-old Houston, Texas resident Shamsud-Din Jabbar, drove his car into a crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street, killing at least fourteen people and injuring dozens more before he was shot and killed by police. While law enforcement is still investigating his motive, police reportedly found an ISIS flag in the truck and Jabbar, an Army veteran, wore military gear, including camouflage and body armor.
FALSE NARRATIVE #1: The suspect was a new immigrant who entered the U.S. via the Southern border
Early reports fueled by non-credible anonymous sources stated that the suspect had crossed into the U.S. via the border in Eagle Pass, Texas, two days before the attack. While law enforcement confirmed hours later that Jabbar was a U.S. citizen and Texas resident, this false narrative was weaponized to suggest the attack was the byproduct of lax immigration enforcement, fueling panic about border security.
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk shares false border-crossing claim after it first aired on Fox News. Source: Telegram
On X, ACT for America — an anti-Muslim organization founded by Islamophobic commentator Brigitte Gabriel — posted the suspect’s name while calling for “mass deportations NOW,” despite the suspect having been born in the U.S.
Act for America weaponizes New Orleans attack to call for mass deportations. Source: X
The reactions to the unfounded Eagle Pass claim highlight the consequences of misinformation that often follows breaking news events, and how unconfirmed information can sow panic and confusion.
FALSE NARRATIVE #2: The attack was a false flag orchestrated by Israel or Zionists to stoke Islamophobia and “justify” war in the Middle East
Conspiracy theories blaming Israel and Zionists for terror attacks are not new; events such as 9/11, as well as more recent incidents like the ISIS-linked Crocus City Hall attack in March 2024, have also been falsely attributed to Israel. Mirroring past conspiratorial claims, some accused the Israeli government of “creating” ISIS, referring to the acronym as the “Israeli Secret Intelligence Service.”
Antisemitic and anti-Zionist influencer Sulaiman Ahmed claims the New Orleans attack was part of a “Zionist Psyop.” Source: X
FALSE NARRATIVE #3: Powerful, nefarious Jews are to blame for the attack
Antisemitic influencers seized on the New Orleans attack to promote overtly hateful falsehoods about Jews, suggesting that the incident was related to Jewish “influence.”
On X, antisemitic propagandist Brother Nathanael used the New Orleans attack and the Tesla Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas, which occurred on the same day, to claim that there was “something jewy [sic] here.”
![Antisemitic propagandist Brother Nathanael suggests there is “something jewy [sic]” about recent attacks. Source: X](/sites/default/files/images/2025-01/BrotherNATHANAEL_X_1020.png)
Antisemitic propagandist Brother Nathanael suggests there is “something jewy [sic]” about recent attacks. Source: X
Influencer “Lou Rage,” who frequently posts antisemitic content, posted on X that the suspect had an “alternative Jewish name.” Other popular antisemitic posts on X referred to ISIS as “jewish [sic] agent provocateurs” and suggested that “the Jewish controlled media” was influencing the investigation of the attack.
X influencer “Lou Rage” refers to “alternative Jewish name” of suspect. Source: X
Blaming Jews at large for acts of terror and violence is common among antisemitic influencers and extremists, who see any global event as an opportunity to promote their hate and bigotry.
FALSE NARRATIVE #4: The government is either hiding the truth about the attack, or coordinated the attack itself
Purveyors of hate and disinformation weaponized the New Orleans attack to promote anti-government conspiracy theories and undermine the legitimacy of the government.
Though the FBI has since indicated that they are investigating the attack as an act of terror, conspiracy theorists used law enforcement’s initial reticence to do so as evidence that the FBI was intentionally hiding evidence, such as the purported ISIS flag in the vehicle, from the public. On Telegram, far-right conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec claimed the FBI “lied about it to the world.”
Jack Posobiec alleges that FBI agents lied about Jabbar’s ISIS flag. Source: Telegram
Some have pointed out that both Jabbar and Matthew Livelsberger — the suspect involved in the Tesla Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas — were veterans, suggesting this common history is evidence that the attacks were an inside job by the U.S. military. A feature on far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Infowars site alleged that the Biden administration was aware of the imminent attacks but allowed them to happen anyway. Others accused the government of being more directly responsible for the attack, posting the phrase, “the CIA created ISIS.”
Electronic Intifada founder Ali Abunimah expresses suspicion over the timing of the New Orleans attack. Source: X
It is typical for conspiracy theorists and extremists to promote false narratives about government incompetence or nefarious “inside jobs;” this allows them to sow distrust in public safety and national security – a steppingstone towards rationalizing political violence.