FBI probes connection between deadly New Orleans attack and Cybertruck explosion

U.S. President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that federal authorities are investigating “any possible connection” between a deadly truck-ramming incident in New Orleans and the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside a Trump hotel in Las Vegas.

Law enforcement officials are examining the circumstances surrounding the explosion, Biden said, though he emphasized that no direct link has been established so far. “Thus far, there’s nothing to report on that score,” the president told reporters during a briefing.

The suspect in the New Orleans attack, identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, allegedly drove a truck into a crowd celebrating New Year’s, killing several people.

Hours before the attack, Jabbar reportedly posted videos on social media suggesting he was inspired by the Islamic State group, according to information provided by the FBI.

“The FBI also reported to me that mere hours before the attack, he posted videos on social media indicating that he was inspired by Daesh,” Biden said, using an alternate acronym for the Islamic State group.

The dual investigations reflect growing concerns over potential threats linked to extremist ideologies, although officials have yet to establish any definitive connection between the two incidents.

The FBI has not disclosed further details about the content of Jabbar’s videos or the exact number of casualties in the New Orleans attack. Similarly, authorities have remained tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding the Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas, which occurred outside a hotel prominently associated with former President Donald Trump.