FBI say 'no definitive link' between New Orleans attack and Tesla blast

Army veteran Shamsud Din Jabbar killed at least 15 people in a suspected terror attack in New Orleans. Now the FBI is investigating whether the attack is linked to a car explosion outside a Trump hotel.

There is currently "no definitive link" between a vehicle attack in New Orleans and an incident which saw a Tesla Cybertruck explode outside the Trump Las Vegas hotel, the FBI has said.

Both incidents took place on New Year's Day in the United States, and investigators had previously said they were looking into possible links between the two events.

In a press conference, Christopher Raia of the FBI Counterterrorism Division said: "At this point there is no definitive link between the attack in New Orleans and the one in Las Vegas."

He went on to emphasise the investigation was still in its early stages.

In the early hours of New Years Day, at least 15 people were killed and dozens injured when a truck ploughed into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans in what the FBI called an “act of terrorism.”

Army veteran Shamsud Din Jabbar - who has been named as the driver of the vehicle - was shot dead at the scene.

Hours later, a Tesla Cybertruck, filled with gas canisters and firework mortars, exploded outside a Trump Hotel in Las Vegas.Officials have named the person inside the truck, who was responsible for the explosion, as active-duty US Army soldier, Matthew Livelsberger.

Authorities said Livelsberger spent time at the base formerly known as Fort Bragg, a large Army base in North Carolina that is home to Army special forces command.

Despite happening two thousand miles apart, President Joe Biden confirmed police are investigating whether the two vehicle attacks were linked.

ITV News explains what we know about the possible connection so far.

What links have been identified?

The vehicles used in both incidents were hired from a company called Turo, which operates an online platform for car owners to lease their vehicles.

Turo confirmed its service was used to rent the vehicles involved in the tragic events in New Orleans and Las Vegas and said it is cooperating with the authorities.

“We do not believe that either renter involved in the Las Vegas and New Orleans attacks had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat,” a Turo spokesperson said.

Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill noted that it is merely a “coincidence” that the truck involved in the New Orleans attack was also rented from Turo, and authorities are actively investigating the situation.

“We are absolutely investigating any connectivity to what happened in New Orleans as well as other attacks that have been occurring around the world,” McMahill said.

Has the connection been confirmed?

President Joe Biden said federal agents are investigating but that “there’s nothing to report on that score at this time".

Were the attacks acts of terrorism?

Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a US citizen from Texas, had joined ISIS and proclaimed his support for the group in several videos posted online prior to the attack.

The flag of the Islamic State group was on the truck's trailer hitch, the FBI said.

In Las Vegas, the bureau is also working to determine whether the incident was a terrorist act. It is believed to be an isolated incident and the FBI said there is no further danger to the public.

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