On New Year’s Day, an assailant drove a rented truck into a crowd of revelers on New Orleans’ famous Bourbon Street. So far, there have been at least 15 confirmed deaths and about 30 others injured. The attacker has been identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar of Texas. Authorities are currently investigating whether the attack was part of a coordinated strike and if the exploding Tesla cybertruck outside a Trump hotel in Las Vegas was connected.
Terrorism in NOLA
Jabbar, reportedly a US citizen who had formerly served in the army, was shot and killed after trading gunfire with law enforcement. His rented truck had an ISIS flag attached to it, and according to President Biden’s statement on the deadly assault, he had made social media videos “mere hours before the attack,” indicating he was inspired by the Islamic State extremist group and expressing a “desire to kill.”
The FBI is investigating this as a terrorist incident and stated that Jabbar had accomplices. Officers discovered improvised explosive devices in the truck and the surrounding area. Authorities believe his accomplices were responsible for planting the outside devices.
“Investigators found multiple improvised explosives, including two pipe bombs that were concealed within coolers and wired for remote detonation, according to a Louisiana State Police intelligence bulletin,” the Associated Press reported.
The French Quarter of New Orleans is usually a heavily regulated zone for vehicles with adjustable bollards (steel columns) in place to prevent access. However, starting in November of 2024, the replacement of the bollards began and left the area more vulnerable.
Las Vegas Explosion
Just hours after the New Orleans attack, a rented Tesla cybertruck exploded outside the front entrance of the Trump Las Vegas hotel. Investigators said the explosion was caused by firework mortars and camp fuel canisters in the back of the truck and was not related to the actual vehicle. The driver of the car was killed in the explosion, and at least seven other people were injured.
Witnesses report that the truck driver – now identified by local media as Matthew Livelsberger from Colorado Springs, also an army veteran – drove up to the valet area in front of the Trump International Hotel on Las Vegas Boulevard and Sammy Davis Jr. Drive and stayed in the vehicle for around 20 seconds before the explosion occurred.
So far, it is believed that Livelsberger rented the truck in Colorado and drove it to Nevada.
Denver 7 Colorado News Chief Investigator Tony Kovaleski posted that:
“Sources also confirming Livelsberger served at the same military base as the terrorist responsible for the attack in New Orleans and authorities are investigating a possible connection between the two men.”
A connection between Jabbar and Livelsberger has not been confirmed by investigators.
Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill suggested that this may also be a terror attack. He said, “This is a Tesla truck, and we know that Elon Musk is working with President-elect Trump, and it’s the Trump Tower … So there’s obviously things to be concerned about and it’s something we continue to look at.
“We are absolutely investigating any connectivity to what happened in New Orleans as well as other attacks that have been occurring around the world … We aren’t ruling anything out,” McMahill said.
The Daily Mail reports that “Law enforcement sources revealed that Livelsberger, who died Wednesday in the explosion outside the hotel, had previously served at the same military base as New Orleans terrorist Shamsud Din Jabbar.” Both the Ford Truck used in New Orleans and the cybertruck were electric vehicles, both rented through the rideshare company Turo.
This is a developing story. Liberty Nation News will keep you updated as facts emerge.
