The FBI has stated that there is “no definitive link” between the deadly New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans and the vehicle explosion near a Trump hotel in Las Vegas.
“At this point, there is no definitive link between the attack here in New Orleans and the one in Las Vegas,” said FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia during a press briefing on Thursday.
The New Orleans attack occurred when a driver intentionally rammed a pickup truck into a crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter. The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a Texas native and former US Army staff sergeant, was killed during a shootout with responding officers. Raia described the incident as “an act of terrorism” and “a premeditated and evil act.”
Jabbar was reportedly “100% inspired” by the ISIS/Daesh terror group. An ISIS flag was found in the vehicle, and Jabbar had declared his allegiance to the group on social media as he traveled to New Orleans from Houston. He also posted videos detailing his plans and expressing his ideological motives. Investigators recovered three mobile phones and two laptops connected to Jabbar and are analyzing them for further leads.
In a separate incident in Las Vegas on the same day, a Tesla Cybertruck explosion near the Trump International Hotel resulted in one fatality and seven injuries. The suspect, Matthew Livelsberger, 37, a US Army veteran, has been identified. Authorities are continuing to investigate both incidents independently.
Raia emphasized that there is no indication of additional individuals being involved in the New Orleans attack and assured the public that the area is secure. The Sugar Bowl college football game, initially postponed due to the attack, is now rescheduled for later Thursday.
