FBI Investigates Links Between New Orleans Attack and Cybertruck Explosion: Biden Speaks

The FBI is examining a potential connection between the New Orleans attack and the Cybertruck blast. President Biden addresses the ongoing investigation.

On Wednesday night, US President Joe Biden spoke to the nation, detailing federal efforts to investigate the terrorist attack in New Orleans that resulted in at least 15 fatalities and addressing the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside Las Vegas’s Trump Hotel.

Biden emphasized the need to ascertain if there is a connection between the two incidents, but warned against making early assumptions. He noted that the investigations are still ongoing and developing.

The outgoing US president stated, “We are monitoring the cyber truck explosion outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies are investigating this incident, including any potential links to the attack in New Orleans.”

“So far, there is nothing to report on that matter,” he added.

In the New Orleans incident that took place in the early hours of New Year’s Day, 42-year-old US Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a rented pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street. This tragic event resulted in the deaths of 15 people and injuries to dozens more. Authorities found an ISIS flag, weapons, and what appeared to be an improvised explosive device inside the vehicle, prompting them to classify it as an act of terrorism.

Jabbar was killed in a shootout with police at the scene. Investigators are currently examining whether he acted alone or had any accomplices.

Later that day in Las Vegas, a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel erupted in an explosion, resulting in the death of the driver and injuries to seven bystanders. Preliminary investigations indicate that the vehicle may have been carrying fireworks or some kind of explosive device.

The fact that both the Cybertruck in Las Vegas and the pickup truck in New Orleans were reportedly rented using the same app has increased federal scrutiny regarding potential connections between these two incidents.

Earlier in the day, Elon Musk firmly rejected allegations that a Tesla vehicle was responsible for the Las Vegas explosion. He stated that “all vehicle telemetry indicated normal conditions at the time of the incident.” Musk suggested that it is “highly possible this was an act of terrorism” and speculated that both incidents might be “connected somehow.”

Biden has instructed senior officials, such as the attorney general, FBI director, and secretary of Homeland Security, to allocate all available resources towards the investigations.

“I have instructed my team to ensure that all resources are accessible to federal, state, and local law enforcement in order to expedite the investigation and guarantee there is no ongoing threat to the American people,” Biden stated.

The president extended his condolences to the victims and their families, stating, “Our nation grieves with you.” He emphasized his administration’s dedication to uncovering all details of these tragedies and ensuring justice is achieved.