Two separate attacks on U.S. soil left multiple casualties this week, with investigators revealing that both the suspects where former U.S. military personnel with extensive service records.
According to new information provided to the media, U.S. authorities appear to have made multiple bombshell links between the New Orleans rampage suspect and the Tesla Cybertruck bomber in Las Vegas.
The U.S. faced two terrifying attacks on New Year’s Day with the worst seeing 15 people killed in Louisiana after a man ploughed into revellers before opening fire.
Terror in New Orleans
On Wednesday, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, drove a truck through crowds in New Orleans’ tourist district, killing 15 and injuring 35 others.
According to reports, Jabbar, a former U.S. Army staff sergeant, served in the army from 2007 to 2015 as a human resource and information technology specialist, including a deployment to Afghanistan during the illegal U.S. occupation.
He later continued in the Army Reserves until 2020 where he allegedly received “an honourable discharge.”
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
Jabbar also earned a computer information systems degree from Georgia State University and worked as a real estate agent in Texas along with having his licenses for hunting and fishing.
Reports suggest he also had prior brushes with the law, including theft and driving without a license.
Court records show two marriages ending in divorce, the latest in 2022.
Jabbar was eventually gunned down by police but law enforcement say they believe the suspect may not have been working alone after an ISIS flag was found.
He was allegedly wearing full body armour and armed with an assault rifle when he allegedly caused the brazen massacre.
According to several media reports, friends and family have expressed disbelief regarding his actions, describing him as kind and disciplined. However, his latest wife suggested he has changed in a bad way in recent months, causing her to stop letting his daughters visit him.
President Joe Biden said Jabbar appeared to be inspired by Daesh/ISIS, noting he had posted videos expressing a desire to kill hours before the attack.
Las Vegas attack
In a separate incident in Las Vegas, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside Trump International Hotel killing 1 person and injured 7 others.
Elon Musk claimed the blast was “terrorism” related and that the events may be linked.
The Tesla CEO also suggested a link may be established due to both vehicles reportedly being rented via the same app.
Media reports identified the suspect as Matthew Livelsberger, 37, allegedly another military veteran who served as a Green Beret, working on small unmanned aircraft systems, though his identity remains unconfirmed by officials.
According to an unverified LinkedIn profile that has since been deleted, the suspect served 19 years in the U.S. Army, including roles as a Special Forces Communications Specialist and Intelligence Specialist.
It has now been revealed that he served at the same base as the New Orleans suspect Jabbar.
However, investigators are yet to confirm any potential relationship or connections between the two suspects.
The profile indicated he graduated from Norwich University, a private military college in Vermont, northeast US.
Local media reported Livelsberger had multiple addresses in Colorado Springs and law enforcement started an investigation there.
U.S. authorities are investigating a potential link between a Cybertruck explosion and the pickup truck attack in New Orleans, Biden said.
