Feds Explore Possible Military Link Between Suspects In Bourbon Street Massacre and Cybertruck Explosion

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Federal authorities are looking into whether two US Army veterans accused of deadly attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas had deeper ties beyond their shared military service.

Key Facts

– At least 15 people were killed and dozens more injured when a Ford F-150 Lightning rammed into a Bourbon Street crowd on New Year’s.
– New Orleans suspect, 42-year-old US Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was shot and killed by police shortly after the incident.
– Within hours, a Tesla Cybertruck explosion rocked the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, allegedly set off by 37-year-old US Army veteran Matthew Livelsberger.
– Both men rented their vehicles from the same San Francisco-based car-sharing service, Turo.
– Authorities are examining social media posts indicating Jabbar claimed allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) and described himself as being “hellbent” on causing widespread damage.

The Rest of The Story

In New Orleans, officials report that Jabbar had a history of service in human resources and information technology while in the Army, including a 2009 deployment to Afghanistan.

Authorities believe he was motivated by extremist ideas, citing a social media post where he waved an IS flag.

Investigators also found evidence that explosive devices may have been prepared in an Airbnb rental, which was being used as a temporary workshop.

Across the country in Las Vegas, a Cybertruck blast injured several people outside the Trump hotel.

The driver, Livelsberger, was killed in the explosion.

Like Jabbar, Livelsberger served in the US Army for many years and was tied to the same military base at some point.

Federal agencies are now investigating if the two men were connected or if the almost simultaneous attacks were part of a coordinated plan.

Turo has stated that neither suspect had a criminal history that would have flagged them as threats.

Meanwhile, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill indicated there could be more suspects involved in the Bourbon Street massacre.

She also expressed concern about the safety of large gatherings in the wake of these incidents.

The Sugar Bowl, set for New Orleans soon after the attack, was temporarily postponed, adding to speculation that law enforcement feared additional threats.

The Bottom Line

The suspected terror attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas within hours of one another have sparked major national security concerns.

Investigators are focusing on how two former US servicemen might have become radicalized and whether they communicated during the planning stages.

While officials stress there is no immediate threat to the public, the back-to-back events underscore the evolving security challenges facing high-profile venues and public gatherings.