Terrorist attack in New Orleans

[Karen-W]

FBI is currently undertaking an action in northern Houston related to this morning's incident.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1874573484195762245

 

[Karen-W]

I don't think it's related. There have been issues with exploding Tesla cybertruck batteries.

I don't think so either - lots of people were commenting on the Las Vegas video that it looks like a battery explosion - but I've never even heard of the Turo app (apparently it's like AirBnB for cars) until today, so that makes it somewhat interesting.

ETA - apparently, the FBI is confirming they're investigating the incident in Las Vegas as "intentional" and that it does NOT appear to be a battery explosion.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1874585613988688263

 

[once_upon]

I think it's too coincidental to not be a serious consideration

 

[Karen-W]

First four victims have been identified - 18-yr old young woman who was supposed to start nursing school in a few weeks, 37-yr old man who went to Bourbon St to celebrate with his cousin - his cousin was also struck by the truck & has extensive injuries, 27-yr old NYC man originally from NOLA who was there for the holidays, and a 27-yr old woman who leaves behind a 4-yr old son.

BREAKING: First victims of New Orleans terror attack identified

Among those killed were 18-year-old Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, 37-year-old Reggie Hunter, and 27-year-old Tiger Bech.

thepostmillennial.com

 

[Karen-W]

I think it's too coincidental to not be a serious consideration

More info on the Las Vegas incident - clip is from CNN...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1874591478783357305

 

[genevieve]

I don't think so either - lots of people were commenting on the Las Vegas video that it looks like a battery explosion - but I've never even heard of the Turo app (apparently it's like AirBnB for cars) until today, so that makes it somewhat interesting.

I don’t even have a driver’s license and I’ve heard of Turo. I don’t think both using that app means anything in particular.

 

[Sparks]

NOLA Massacre Terrorist's Ex-Wife Says He Was Abusive

A Former wife of Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the terrorist at the center of the New Year's Eve attack in New Orleans, is in disbelief ... but recounts a marriage she says was "abusive" -- and this is a different wife from the one who got a restraining order against him.

www.tmz.com

 

[Rob]

I'm not sure when Mardi Gras falls this year, but other reports are that the plan was to have the renovation done before the Super Bowl, which is being hosted by New Orleans this year.

Either way, starting work in November with the goal of being ready for the Super Bowl instead of starting work in September with the goal of being ready for NYE and the Sugar Bowl is a major planning & security failure on the part of the city.

Ugh, I hadn’t thought of that - and that is early in February. Terrible planning. Mardi Gras is the first week in March.

 

[ballettmaus]

At least three people have died due to an explosion in Hawaii as well. While officials haven't released an official cause yet (and it occured only three miles from the headquarter of US Army Pacific), I've read elsewhere that it looks like this one wasn't terrorism or deliberate but caused by illegal fireworks.

So much death. What a sad way to start the New Year

At least 3 dead, multiple injured following massive New Year's Eve fireworks explosion in Hawaii

Aerial fireworks require a pyrotechnic permit under Hawaiian state law. However, only a small minority of attempts to prosecute those violating fireworks restrictions result in guilty verdicts or pleas.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Rob]

I think it's too coincidental to not be a serious consideration

Coincidental that it was on the same day as NOLA and coincidental that a Muskmobile blew up at a Trump Hotel.

 

[Karen-W]

Coincidental that it was on the same day as NOLA and coincidental that a Muskmobile blew up at a Trump Hotel.

No, it was definitely a detonated, planned explosion - not a battery fire that turned into an inferno. The Las Vegas police had some good drone footage of the truck bed during their press conference & you could see the empty gas canisters and other explosive materials inside it. Thankfully, the cybertruck's design & materials prevented more damage from being done.

It may wind up being not related, but it would be a dereliction of duty and for the safety of all of us to not investigate any possible connection between the two incidents.

 

[Rob]

No, it was definitely a detonated, planned explosion - not a battery fire that turned into an inferno. The Las Vegas police had some good drone footage of the truck bed during their press conference & you could see the empty gas canisters and other explosive materials inside it. Thankfully, the cybertruck's design & materials prevented more damage from being done.

It may wind up being not related, but it would be a dereliction of duty and for the safety of all of us to not investigate any possible connection between the two incidents.

I meant “too coincidental”- responding to once upon. Seems suspicious. Makes me wonder what’s next.

 

[Karen-W]

I meant “too coincidental”- responding to once upon. Seems suspicious. Makes me wonder what’s next.

No kidding. January is a busy month with pro & college football playoff games happening all over the country, plus everything that is happening in DC with Carter's funeral and the inauguration.

 

[once_upon]

I still think someone in the FBI had warning - NY's NYE Times Square had too much security measures to be just the normal security. Which makes me wonder why New Orleans and Las Vegas seemingly didn't have as much.

I think we all need to be hyper aware of our surroundings.

 

[Coco]

I'm not sure when Mardi Gras falls this year, but other reports are that the plan was to have the renovation done before the Super Bowl, which is being hosted by New Orleans this year.

Either way, starting work in November with the goal of being ready for the Super Bowl instead of starting work in September with the goal of being ready for NYE and the Sugar Bowl is a major planning & security failure on the part of the city.

Is NYE in the French Quarter a significantly larger crowd vs a normal weekend? How does it compare to the crowds for the Super Bowl or Mardi Gras? I'm just curious because there is no good time to do this work for an area like that. It is almost always hopping.

Apparently the original bollards didn't work well. Some places had metal(?) gates as a temporary replacement for the bollards but this intersection didn't appear to have one. At this particular intersection, the killer drove around a police blockade which consisted of one SUV.

This article has a helpful map.

Bourbon Street barriers were down, being replaced when driver struck dozens in mass attack

Street barriers that city officials set up in 2017 to prevent terrorist attacks were being replaced when a driver barreled down Bourbon Street early Wednesday, killing 10 and striking dozens more.

www.nola.com

"If they were not operable, that's unacceptable. And if they were not operable, there should have been a Plan B. There should have been a tow truck," (US Rep Troy) Carter said.

City Council President Helena Moreno told WWL-TV that the council had been concerned about how long it has taken to reinstall the bollards. She said that council person Freddie King, whose district includes the French Quarter, has questioned the duration of the project several times. A city solicitation for the work, which closed on Sept. 20, envisioned a 70-day project with seven-day work weeks, weather permitting and excluding holidays.

Moreno pushed back on the notion that the absence of bollards was to blame, noting the perpetrator could have made it onto Bourbon Street another way.

 

[attyfan]

Here is another article on the Vegas explosion:

Firework mortars, gas cannisters stuffed inside Tesla that exploded outside Trump's Las Vegas hotel

Firework mortars and camp fuel canisters were found stuffed into the back of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel early Wednesday.

apnews.com

 

[Judy]

My heart goes out to FSUers and their friends and relatives and everyone in New Orleans. Another horrible tragedy.

New Orleans Attacker Was ‘Inspired’ by ISIS, Biden Says

Investigators who briefed President Biden told him that the suspect had posted videos indicating that he had a “desire to kill.” At least 15 people died in the attack.

www.nytimes.com

ETA: From the NY Times: "The driver of the pickup truck is dead after getting into a shootout with police after he ran over pedestrians and crashed, according to two law enforcement officials speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing. The incident is being investigated as a suspected act of terrorism, the officials said."

ETA: Well the Mayor of New Orleans says it was a terrorist attack but the FBI says it wasn't. In any case it is a horrible "mass casualty event."

Omg I haven’t looked at the news all day. Wtf is going on. Easier to convict though vs a terrorist attack. Omg though do we have members living there? ? Ok he’s dead.

 

[Karen-W]

Is NYE in the French Quarter a significantly larger crowd vs a normal weekend? How does it compare to the crowds for the Super Bowl or Mardi Gras? I'm just curious because there is no good time to do this work for an area like that. It is almost always hopping.

I think NYE in the French Quarter is busier than most normal weekends/larger crowds because 1) it's NYE and 2) the Sugar Bowl brings in thousands of college football fans for the game the next day. It's a pretty popular NYE destination - I've had friends from out-of-state make the trip in past years.

 

[Judy]

I believe

I don’t even have a driver’s license and I’ve heard of Turo. I don’t think both using that app means anything in particular.

I personally haven’t but I don’t live in the u.s. too.

I can definitely see there is big concern for future attacks because of the rentals from the same companies. Part of terrorism is the fear it causes too - of course.

 

[Karen-W]

Another similarity between the Las Vegas Trump Tower explosion and the New Orleans attack has emerged...

Suspects in Vegas explosion, New Orleans attack served at same Army base, police confirm

Denver7 Investigates has learned that the suspects in the Las Vegas Tesla explosion and the New Orleans truck rampage on New Year's Day both served at the same military base.

www.denver7.com

The LV suspect has been identified and his residence in Colorado Springs was raided earlier tonight. He also served at the same military base and is in the same age-range as the New Orleans suspect.

 

[Vash01]

Another similarity between the Las Vegas Trump Tower explosion and the New Orleans attack has emerged...

Suspects in Vegas explosion, New Orleans attack served at same Army base, police confirm

Denver7 Investigates has learned that the suspects in the Las Vegas Tesla explosion and the New Orleans truck rampage on New Year's Day both served at the same military base.

www.denver7.com

The LV suspect has been identified and his residence in Colorado Springs was raided earlier tonight. He also served at the same military base and is in the same age-range as the New Orleans suspect.

Wow! Strong possibility that they had coordinated or communicated.

 

[Rob]

I’ve been on Bourbon Halloween weekend and New Year’s Eve in past years. It was absolutely mobbed on Halloween - my hotel had French doors into Bourbon and it didn’t really quiet down until 5-6 am which is pretty normal I think. New Years Eve has other events like Sugar Bowl parade, fireworks on the water, drop of the Fleur de Lis that draws people off Bourbon but all that is done well before 3 am so people could head back to Bourbon if they are still up. I’d imagine it was pretty crazy.

 

[BlueRidge]

This has been looking more and more like a lone individual attack. Guardian reports this:

The FBI and New Orleans law enforcement believe there were no additional suspects in the vicinity of the Bourbon Street attack, although officials continue to explore whether the suspect was in contact with other individuals remotely, ABC reports. Surveillance footage reportedly suggests the explosive devices found in the area were planted by Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the suspect accused of driving his car into a crowd of New Years revelers and killing 15 people.

He may have carried out the attack alone but it seems pretty clear he was radicalized online so its not that its a "lone wolf" per se.

 

[BlueRidge]

AP is reporting about the driver of the cybertruck.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The person who authorities believe died in the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck packed with firework mortars and camp fuel canisters outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel was an active-duty U.S. Army soldier, three U.S. officials told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Two law enforcement officials identified the man inside the futuristic-looking pickup truck as Matthew Livelsberger. The law enforcement officials spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation.

​

Man who died in Tesla Cybertruck explosion was active-duty US Army soldier, officials say

 

[Karen-W]

One of the victims has been identified as Edward Pettifer, stepson of Tiggy Pettifer (nee Legg-Bourke), the longtime nanny of Prince William & Prince Harry. The Prince & Princess of Wales issued a brief statement.

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[TanithandBenFan]

One of the terrorist attack victims was from my hometown, and last night his grandparents were killed by an impaired driver who plowed into three vehicles with his truck. It is so unbelievably tragic that they suffered the same fate as their grandson and that this family has to go through this yet again.

Grandparents of Bourbon Street victim killed Saturday by alleged impaired driver in Gretna

Stephan Juarez, 33, booked with vehicular homicide, other counts

www.fox8live.com