US Begins New Year With Truck Ramming Attack; Vehicle Explosion at Trump Hotel

Last updated on January 2nd, 2025 at 09:01 am

The United States began 2025 with a pair of deadly, and possibly connected attacks.

At 3:15 a.m. central time, a suspect in New Orleans, Louisiana drove a truck through a crowd of people on Bourbon Street, with a rented pickup truck.

The FBI has identified the suspect in the New Orleans attack 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas. Authorities subsequently identified Jabbar as a U.S. Army veteran.

After the truck came to a stop, Jabbar reportedly exited the vehicle and began firing at local law enforcement responding. Officers returned fire and killed Jabbar at the scene.

15 people have now died of their injuries from the attack, while dozens more remain hospitalized.

Investigating authorities uncovered a flag of the Islamic State in the suspect vehicle, along with an potential improvised explosive device. Another improvised explosive device was also located in the French Quarter of the city.

The FBI is leading the investigation, and is treating the attack as an act of terrorism.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has told NBC News multiple people may have been involved in the attack.

Hours after the truck ramming attack in New Orleans, a Tesla Cybertruck pulled up in front of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada and then exploded.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has said the vehicles sole occupant was killed in the blast an ensuing fire. Seven others were injured.

Investigators said they found gas canisters and packages of fireworks in the bed of the Cybertruck.

The attacks come as President-elect Donald Trump is set to return to the White House on Jan. 20.

In a press statement following the Trump Hotel blast, President Joe Biden said investigating authorities are working to determine whether the explosion was connected to the New Orleans attack, but said, “Thus far, there’s nothing to report on that score.”

The peer-to-peer car rental platform Turo has since come forward with a statement, confirming the vehicles used in both incidents were rented through their service.

“We are devastated by these horrible incidents, and remain dedicated to helping the authorities however we can,” the company said.

Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill said the fact that the explosion had occurred within a Cybertruck had actually mitigated its deadly potential. Tesla had advertised the Cybertruck’s “ultra-hard stainless-steel” frame as a damage mitigation feature.