Federal authorities have filed charges against a Missouri man accused of publishing online tutorials on how to manufacture explosives that the terrorist who carried out the deadly attack in New Orleans’ historic French Quarter on New Year’s Day 2025 used as a blueprint to make his own improvised bombs.
R Matthew Price, a US attorney, announced Tuesday that 40-year-old Jordan Derrick, of the Missouri city of Sweet Springs, had been charged with one count each of engaging in the business of manufacturing explosive materials without a license, unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device, and illicitly distributing information relating to manufacturing explosives.
The charges trace back to the early morning hours of 1 January 2025, when 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar rammed a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year’s Eve revelers on the city’s famed Bourbon Street before being shot dead by police. The Islamic State terror group sympathizer killed 14 people and injured dozens.
Prosecutors allege that Jabbar had also planted two improvised explosives devices in the area he targeted, though he ultimately did not manage to detenonate them.
According to the criminal complaint against him, Derrick’s social media accounts provided step-by-step instructions that Jabbar downloaded to construct those explosives. The FBI determined the design of the explosives Jabbar made but failed to detonate were consistent with techniques Derrick began posting about as early as September 2023.
Derrick’s tutorials allegedly demonstrated how to synthesize volatile, military-grade materials – including RDX, TNT, and PETN – as well as complex compounds like nickel aminoguanidine perchlorate.
The investigation leading to Derrick’s arrest took new urgency after a 4 May 2026 explosion at a home in Odessa, Missouri. That home’s occupant allegedly told investigators the blast happened after he manufactured an explosive from watching Derrick’s tutorials.
Derrick could face a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment if he is convicted of distributing information pertaining to manufacturing explosives. If also convicted of illegally manufacturing explosives and possessing an unregistered explosive device, he could get up to 10 years in prison on each.
WWL Louisiana is a Guardian reporting partner.
