Tesla truck explosion and New Orleans attack: America shaken by carnage at start of 2025

Two of America's most visited and celebrated cities are at the centre of terrorism investigations. Many people feared the opening weeks of 2025 would be turbulent, but no one expected this.

For those partying on iconic Bourbon Street in the historic French Quarter of New Orleans it was a nightmare captured by security cameras and passers-by.

Just a few hours after the start of the New Year, a truck was seen evading a police car blocking the street entrance, then hurtled down the road at high speed, the driver trying to kill as many pedestrians as he could.

Distressing video captured the panic and the horror as dozens were either killed or injured. The suspect, Shamsud Din Jabbar, is believed to have been inspired by ISIS.

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A flag and notes were found in the car and videos uploaded to his Facebook page. After his truck crashed, he was killed in a gun battle with police.

Six hours later, and nearly two thousand miles to the west, a Tesla truck exploded outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas.

Police are investigating whether the two vehicle attacks were linked.

Both trucks had been rented using the same car sharing app.

Police in Las Vegas say that the Cybertruck was packed with fireworks and fuel cannisters. The driver was killed, and several other people were wounded.

The two attacks feed into a toxic political climate ahead of the Inauguration and the power vacuum of the transition.

Republicans say they expose the feckless leadership of Joe Biden and prove that Donald Trump was right to highlight during the campaign the dangers of open borders and a politicised FBI – (There is no evidence at this stage that the suspect came across the border or that the FBI failed in its mission due to political interference).

Some MAGA figures, such as Trump's top campaign adviser Chris LaCivita, are insisting that Biden must be held to account on January 20, as soon as he leaves office.

Democrats, in turn, believe that Trump World is attempting to gain political advantage from the New Orleans attack when it should be a time of national unity.

Either way, the horror on New Year's Day means Americans are once more looking over their shoulder, wondering whether there will be copy-cat jihadist-inspired attacks.

In less than three weeks President-elect Trump will be sworn into office. Not only does he faces conflict overseas, but also deepening anxiety about terrorism at home.

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