FBI Arrests Jordan Derrick, 40, Over Bomb Tutorials Used in 14-Killing New Orleans Attack
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 13
FBI Arrests Jordan Derrick, 40, Over Bomb Tutorials Used in 14-Killing New Orleans Attack
9 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 13
Jordan Derrick, 40, was arrested Tuesday in Missouri after federal prosecutors said his social-media videos taught viewers to make explosives and detonators later used by New Orleans attacker Shamsud-Din Jabbar.
The newly unsealed complaint says Derrick posted step-by-step demonstrations from September 2023, covering compounds including TNT, PETN, RDX, HMTD and ammonium nitrate mixtures capable of causing catastrophic damage.
Investigators say Jabbar downloaded the publicly available tutorials and built improvised explosive devices consistent with Derrick’s methods before the Jan. 1, 2025 Bourbon Street rampage that killed 14 people; nearby bombs failed to detonate.
Federal authorities also tied Derrick’s videos to a May 4 house explosion in Odessa, Missouri, where a homeowner allegedly said he learned to build explosive devices from Derrick-linked accounts.
Derrick faces three federal counts, including distributing bomb-making information, which carries up to 20 years in prison; he has not entered a plea.
When bomb-making becomes a viral tutorial, has the internet erased the line between free speech and violence?
With online radicalization now taking just weeks, how can authorities win the race against digital terror?
Are tech giants complicit in terrorism if their algorithms amplify bomb-making videos for profit?
Jordan Derrick’s Arrest and the Digital Trail to the 2025 New Orleans Bombing: Legal, Social, and Security Implications
Overview
Jordan Derrick was arrested on May 12, 2026, facing serious federal charges for manufacturing and distributing explosive materials. His case is a major development in investigations into online bomb-making instructions and their real-world consequences. Prosecutors allege Derrick created and shared detailed guides for making explosives, which were later linked to the deadly New Orleans attack in 2025 and a recent explosion in Missouri. The charges against him carry long prison sentences, reflecting the severity of his alleged actions. This case highlights the growing dangers of online content related to explosives and the challenges law enforcement faces in preventing such threats.