Thursday morning news: January 2, 2025

New Orleans attack » In the wake of a new year’s terrorist attack in New Orleans, investigators may still have as many questions as they do answers.

The plot thickened on Wednesday with authorities now weighing the possibility that the attack was not limited to New Orleans. New details suggest an explosion in Las Vegas could have been connected. More on that momentarily.

As for the attacker in New Orleans, President Biden said there’s no doubt about the motive:

BIDEN:  Mere hours before the attack, he posted videos on social media indicating that he was inspired by ISIS, expressing a desire to kill.

At least 15 people were killed in the attack.

The assailant has been identified as Houston native Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran.

Authorities say he rammed a rented pickup truck bearing an ISIS flag into a crowd of new year’s revelers on Bourbon Street a little after 3:00 A.M. Wednesday morning.

One witness told reporters:

WITNESS: After it gets past us, the guy — I didn’t know it was a terrorist, but the guy ends up getting out and shooting people.

At that point, police say officers shot and killed Jabbar.

The FBI says they do not believe he acted alone, and investigators last night were hunting for additional suspects.

Vegas Cybertruck explosion » And then there is that explosion outside of Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas.

A truck parked in front of the hotel erupted into flames a little before 9:00 A.M. Wednesday. And police say that too is being investigated as a possible terrorist attack. Las Vegas Metro Police Dept Sheriff Kevin McMahill:

MCHAHILL: We are absolutely investigating any connectivity to what happened in New Orleans.

Suspiciously large quantities of firework mortars and camp fuel canisters were found stuffed into the back of a Tesla Cybertruck. The blast killed the unidentified suspect inside the truck. Seven people nearby suffered minor injuries.

The Cybertruck in Las Vegas and the truck used in the New Orleans attack were both reportedly rented using the same app.

MCMAHILL: We do know the truck was rented in Colorado. We were able to trace that truck through the Tesla charging stations.

Investigators are also looking into the possible symbolism of a Tesla Cybertruck in front of a Trump hotel given the connection between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump.

Musk said on his X platform Wednesday that they picked the wrong vehicle for a terrorist attack. The body of the truck is made of specially hardened stainless steel designed to stop a small caliber bullet. Police say the truck’s design helped contain the explosion, directing the blast upward. Not even the nearby glass doors of the hotel lobby were broken.

Sugar Bowl postponed, mayor asks people to avoid Bourbon St » The college football Sugar Bowl is expected to be played today in New Orleans after being delayed one day in the wake of the attack.

Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley said yesterday:

HUNDLEY:  Work is fast about to set up a safe and efficient and fun environment.

And New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said authorities are leaving nothing to chance with regard to security for the event.

KIRKPATRICK:  Part of the safety plan is we have bomb dogs out there sweeping the Superdome and all the exterior area and we're locking that down. That will be locked down through the game.

The College Football Playoff quarterfinal between Georgia and Notre Dame is slated to kick off at 4pm Eastern in the New Orleans Superdome.

Germany NYE violence » In Germany, government officials are condemning violent incidents on New Year’s Eve.

In Berlin, at least 30 police officers and one firefighter were injured in confrontations.

NATH: [SPEAKING GERMAN]

Berlin police spokesman Florian Nath said officers arrested more than 300 people who threw projectiles and aimed fireworks at police. He said one officer was seriously injured.

German news outlet DPA also reports that five people were killed and hundreds injured across the country after being hit accidentally by fireworks.

Russia rejects Trump plan » Russia says it’s prepared to reject the rumored terms of a proposal to end the war in Ukraine. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: President-elect Donald Trump intends to open negotiations with Russia and Ukraine to end the fighting.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov this week said he doesn’t expect any official talks until Trump takes office.

But … he says he has read American news reports that cite sources close to Trump. … And the Kremlin is not impressed by rumored terms of a forthcoming proposal.

Lavrov said Russia would reject any agreement that would station European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine. He also said Moscow won’t accept Ukraine's entrance into NATO … even if it is delayed for 20 years.

He added that if relations between the US and Russia are to heal … Washington will have to make the first move.

Reporting for WORLD, I'm Kristen Flavin.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: a report on the top religious liberty news from 2024. Plus, aid workers remember what it was like fighting famine in Ethiopia in 1984.

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