FBI agent says attack was ‘not a terrorist incident’, refuses to say whether to fire
The FBI remained silent on this Will the agency fire or punish the agent who told the media and the public that the shocking New Year’s Eve attack in New Orleans was “not a terrorist incident” before the agency quickly backtracked and announced that the attack was in fact being investigated as terrorism? event.
Fox News Digital reached out to the FBI’s press office and press secretary on Thursday and Friday to fire or discipline Alethea Duncan, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s New Orleans field office, for initially claiming the attack was not terrorism-related. he asked if he would face it. but received no response. Fox Digital also called the FBI’s press office Friday morning, but was unable to leave a message about the request because the voicemail was full.
After chaos broke out on Bourbon Street early Wednesday morning as New Year’s revelers celebrated, Duncan said during a news conference that the attack was not terror-related.
“We will take over the leadership of the investigation for this incident. This is not a terrorist incident“, Duncan said during the press.
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FBI Special Agent Aletha Duncan told the public at a press conference that the attack in New Orleans was not related to terrorism. (Reuters)
During the same press conference, the mayor of New Orleans told the media and the public that the city had in fact been hit by a terrorist attack.
“Know that City of New Orleans affected by the terrorist act. It’s all still under investigation,” Democratic Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who has been in office since 2018, said at a news conference.
On Thursday, the FBI responded to Fox Digital’s request for comment on criticism of Duncan’s initial assessment that the attack was not terror-related, telling Fox Digital on the day of the attack. The FBI released three separate statements all said the FBI was investigating the incident as an act of terrorism.
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“A man drove a car into people on Bourbon Street in New Orleans this morning, killing several people and injuring dozens more. That person later contacted local law enforcement and is now deceased. The FBI is leading the charge. The investigative agency and our partners are investigating this. We are working to investigate it as a terrorist act,” said Raqamsal in one of his statements to Fox.
Duncan also said in subsequent press conferences that the attack was being investigated as an act of terrorism.
The FBI confirmed this week that the suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, had an ISIS flag on his truck at the time of the attack. The FBI added Thursday that Jabbar was “inspired” by ISIS, but found no evidence that he ordered ISIS to carry out the attack.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry speaks to the media during a news conference on January 1, 2025 in New Orleans. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Jabbar, a 42-year-old Army veteran from Texas, drove his truck through the crowd and was killed in a shootout with police.
Conservative lawmakers, Trump allies and constituents have criticized the FBI for its handling of the investigation, including Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, who has argued that the FBI is focusing more on DEI practices than fighting crime.
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“The FBI has a failed mission. There is no room for error. When they fail, Americans die. It is imperative that Kash Patel be confirmed as soon as possible.” A source close to the newly elected president of the United States, Donald Trump added the criticism to Fox News Digital on Thursday morning.
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