Terrorist Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar was captured on CCTV scoping out the streets of New Orleans just over an hour before he drove a pick-up truck into New Year party-goers, killing at least 14.

The FBI released surveillance footage of the US Army veteran walking around the city’s French Quarter at around 2am on Wednesday, wearing blue jeans and a brown overcoat.

The agency also released an image of the blue and white cooler in which Jabbar, from Texas, hid an improvised explosive device before planting it near the intersection of Bourbon Street and Orleans Street.

The FBI said on Thursday it now believed the 42-year-old had acted alone, after initially stating it did not appear he was solely responsible for the attack.

Chris Raia, the FBI’s deputy assistant director for counterterrorism, said Jabbar had made video recordings hours before the attack, some of which referenced his divorce.