{"id":820061,"date":"2025-01-15T09:12:53","date_gmt":"2025-01-15T15:12:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/15\/us-probing-if-new-orleans-attack-and-tesla-truck-blast-outside-trump-hotel-are-linked\/"},"modified":"2025-01-15T09:12:53","modified_gmt":"2025-01-15T15:12:53","slug":"us-probing-if-new-orleans-attack-and-tesla-truck-blast-outside-trump-hotel-are-linked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/15\/us-probing-if-new-orleans-attack-and-tesla-truck-blast-outside-trump-hotel-are-linked\/","title":{"rendered":"US probing if New Orleans attack and Tesla truck blast outside Trump hotel are linked"},"content":{"rendered":"
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NEW YORK<\/span> \u2013 US President Joe Biden said law enforcement officials were looking for any additional people who may have played a part in the attack in New Orleans that left at least 15 people dead.<\/a><\/p>\n

Mr Biden said initial indications \u2013 including social media videos posted by the suspect in the hours ahead of the attack \u2013 suggested he had been influenced by militant group ISIS but urged Americans to allow the investigation to proceed before drawing their own conclusions. <\/p>\n

He also said law enforcement was examining if there was any link with the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside US President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s hotel in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe FBI is leading the investigation to determine what happened, why it happened, whether there was any continuing threat to public safety,\u201d Mr Biden said on the evening of Jan 1 from Camp David, calling the violence in New Orleans a \u201cdespicable attack\u201d.<\/p>\n

The President said the law enforcement and intelligence communities would \u201ccontinue to look for any connections, associations, or co-conspirators\u201d and urged that \u201cno one should jump to conclusions\u201d.<\/p>\n

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President Joe Biden says law enforcement officials are also looking for any additional people who may have played a part in the New Orleans attack.PHOTO: REUTERS<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mr Biden said the dead suspect \u2013 identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42 \u2013 was an American citizen who was born in Texas and who had served in the US Army. Mr Biden said Jabbar had posted videos on social media expressing a desire to kill.<\/p>\n

The incidents in New Orleans and Las Vegas have thrust questions about national security and terrorism to the forefront, with just weeks before Trump is set to be inaugurated for his second term.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Trump vowed to support New Orleans as officials and residents \u201cinvestigate and recover from this act of pure evil\u201d, in a Jan 1 statement on his Truth Social platform. <\/p>\n

But he also used the incident to assail border security and crime, appearing to suggest \u2013 before the suspect was identified \u2013 that he may have been a migrant.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I said that the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country, that statement was constantly refuted by Democrats and the fake news media, but it turned out to be true,\u201d Trump said in a post. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe crime rate in our country is at a level that nobody has ever seen before.\u201d<\/p>\n

Early investigation<\/h2>\n

Mr Biden on Jan 1 called the situation \u201cfluid\u201d and cautioned that the investigation was still in its early stages.<\/p>\n

Earlier on the morning of Jan 1, he spoke to New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell to offer the federal government\u2019s support. Mr Biden was briefed throughout the afternoon by his homeland security team, according to the White House. <\/p>\n

He also received a briefing on the fire and explosion outside the Las Vegas hotel.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The New Orleans attack occurred around 3.15am local time on Jan 1 near the intersection of Canal and Bourbon streets in New Orleans, when the suspect allegedly drove a Ford pickup truck through crowds in the French Quarter. <\/p>\n

In addition to the death toll, dozens of others were injured, according to the FBI. <\/p>\n

The suspect was killed after exchanging fire with law enforcement, striking two officers, who are in stable condition.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Two improvised explosive devices were found in the suspect\u2019s vehicle, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The FBI said additional possible improvised explosive devices were found in the French Quarter neighbourhood.<\/p>\n

The FBI said the pickup truck appeared to be rented and an ISIS flag was found in the vehicle. The agency is working to determine any potential associations or affiliations Jabbar may have had with terrorist groups.<\/p>\n

The suspect in the attack left a trail of carnage in a part of New Orleans that is a popular tourist hot spot, particularly during New Year\u2019s celebrations that can draw thousands to the bar-lined French Quarter. <\/p>\n

And it came hours before the football teams from Notre Dame and the University of Georgia were set to play in the city\u2019s Superdome. The game has been postponed until Jan 2.<\/p>\n