U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that law enforcement officials are investigating possible connections between two recent attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas.
“We’re tracking the explosion of a Cybertruck outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas,” Biden said. “Law enforcement and the intelligence community are investigating this as well, including whether there’s any possible connection with the attack in New Orleans.”
On New Year’s Day, a tragic incident occurred in New Orleans when a pickup truck was driven into a crowd of celebrants, resulting in the deaths of 15 people and injuries to approximately 30 others, including two police officers. The suspect, identified as 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar from Texas, was killed in a shootout with police following the attack.
The FBI is investigating the New Orleans incident as an act of terrorism. In a statement, the agency expressed the belief that the suspect might not have acted alone. “We are exploring all leads and examining any potential connections,” the FBI stated.
Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, an explosion involving a Tesla Cybertruck occurred outside a hotel owned by President-elect Donald Trump. The blast killed the driver and resulted in minor injuries to seven people, according to Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Schwartz told reporters that it is not yet clear whether the Las Vegas blast was an act of terrorism. “We are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the explosion and any links to other incidents,” he said.
Authorities are working diligently to uncover any ties between the two events as they continue to prioritize public safety.
Reference(s):
Biden: Officials probing if New Orleans attack, Las Vegas blast linked
cgtn.com
