HOUSTON, TX , Thedailymiamines— The FBI confirmed Thursday that bomb-making chemicals were found at the Houston home of Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the suspect in the deadly Bourbon Street attack that killed 14 people and injured 35 on New Year’s Day.
According to agents with the FBI’s Houston division, the chemicals, described as “precursor chemicals,” were recovered from a property in north Harris County. However, the specific substances and their intended use have not been disclosed, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The discovery came shortly after the January 1st attack on Bourbon Street, where authorities discovered two ice chests containing improvised explosive devices (IEDs). These IEDs were found in the aftermath of the attack, which remains a point of concern for law enforcement officials nationwide.
On Wednesday, federal agents cordoned off a Houston neighborhood in search of clues related to Jabbar, the man suspected of planning and carrying out the horrific bombing. The search focused on a small, white mobile home in a gated community, which was listed as Jabbar’s last known address. Investigators spent over a day searching the property before confirming the presence of bomb-making chemicals.
“We can confirm ‘precursor chemicals’ were found at a north Harris County property,” an FBI spokesperson said in an email to KHOU. “This is an ongoing investigation for which FBI New Orleans is the lead agency.”
Federal agents returned to the site on Friday, though it remains unclear what they are looking for or if any further developments have been made. At the time of the return visit, Harris County Sheriff’s Office patrol units were seen blocking access to the area, signaling the intensification of the investigation.
Jabbar, a former U.S. Army staff sergeant, served in the military from 2007 to 2020. During his service, he was deployed to Afghanistan between 2009 and 2010, where he worked in human resources and information technology. After transitioning to the Army Reserve in 2015, Jabbar completed his service in 2020, five years before the deadly attack.
The FBI’s investigation is now extending beyond Houston as agents work to piece together the details of Jabbar’s alleged involvement in the tragic event on Bourbon Street. Local authorities and federal investigators are focused on uncovering the full scope of Jabbar’s plans, hoping to prevent further violence or danger to the public.
As the investigation continues, authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any relevant information.