Links elusive between New Orleans and Las Vegas attacks: Here’s what we know

Authorities continue their investigations into the suspected terrorist attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas on New Year’s Day, but few links between the two have come to light, despite a number of comparable background details between the perpetrators.

“And so we're also continuing to investigate whether or not there's any connection between the New Orleans attack and the explosion in Las Vegas,” President Joe Biden told the nation on Thursday. “As of now, as of now, they've just been briefed they have not found any evidence of such a connection, thus far. I've directed them to keep looking.”

Here’s what we know so far:

On New Year’s Day, in the early morning, one driver raced through a crowded New Orleans street in the city’s French Quarter, killing at least 15 and injuring dozens of others. Authorities have identified the deceased driver as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen and Army veteran. Law enforcement has characterized the incident as an “act of terrorism” and confirmed that Jabbar posted support for the Islamic State prior to the rampage. He further said he joined the terrorist group before the summer of 2024.

After initial announcements stating that law enforcement was investigating the possibility that he did not act alone, the FBI on Thursday stated it now believes there were no accomplices. Additionally, authorities discovered explosive devices in ice coolers at two locations in the French Quarter. Biden confirmed that Jabbar was behind both.

Hours later in Las Vegas, the driver of a Tesla Cybertruck pulled up to the lobby of the Trump Hotel and detonated a bevy of explosives stored within the car, killing himself in the process. The suspect has been identified as Matthew Livelsberger, 37, a Colorado Springs resident and also an Army veteran. Law enforcement stated the Cybertruck largely contained the blast, which failed to even break the lobby’s glass doors.

Some similarities

Despite Biden’s statement that law enforcement had not identified any links between the incidents, a number of similarities in the two perpetrators' backgrounds and modus operandi have emerged thus far. Each previously spent time at Fort Bragg (now Liberty) as part of their military service, and Livelsberger was an active duty Green Beret at the time of his death, multiple outlets confirmed. He sustained a gunshot wound to the head prior to the car’s detonation, presumably self-inflicted.

Livelsberger and Jabbar also reportedly both used the Turo app to rent the vehicles they used in their respective incidents. Jabbar did not use a Cybertruck, however. Fox News reported that the vehicle previously crossed the Mexican border in mid-November, but that Jabbar did not appear to be the driver at that time.

Republicans want action

Amid the twin incidents, Republicans have called for the expedited confirmation of Trump’s key security nominees, notably Pete Hegseth for secretary of Defense, Kash Patel as FBI director, and Tulsi Gabbard as director of National Intelligence.

“With reports of ISIS inspiration, the American people expect clear answers from the administration. The threat posed by ISIS will outlast this administration, and this is a clear example of why the Senate must get President Trump’s national security team in place as quickly as possible,” said incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican.

Said Wyoming GOP Sen. John Barrasso: "The U.S. Senate must confirm President Trump’s national security team as soon as possible. Lives depend on it."

Trump blames Biden

Fox News initially reported that the vehicle used in the New Orleans attack crossed the border two days prior, but later updated its information. Trump, however, still pointed to the border as an avenue for Islamic extremists to enter the country.

“With the Biden 'Open Border’s Policy' I said, many times during Rallies, and elsewhere, that Radical Islamic Terrorism, and other forms of violent crime, will become so bad in America that it will become hard to even imagine or believe,” he posted on Truth Social. 

“That time has come, only worse than ever imagined. Joe Biden is the WORST PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICA, A COMPLETE AND TOTAL DISASTER,” he added. “What he and his group of Election Interfering 'thugs' have done to our Country will not soon be forgotten! MAGA”