Tesla Cybertruck explosion and New Orleans attack: What we know

good morning. Here’s what you need to know to start your day.

The new year began with a Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas and an attack in New Orleans

Like many of my readers, I woke up on New Year’s Day to horrifying news about the attack in New Orleans that left at least 14 people dead. Then, just a few hours later, my husband told me about the Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas.

Christopher Reier of the FBI’s counterterrorism division said Thursday there is “no definitive link” between the New Orleans attack and the Las Vegas explosion, but authorities have not ruled out the possibility. added reporting from colleagues Hannah Fry, Richard Winton and Summer Lin.

Surface-level similarities between the two cases have aroused suspicion. The explosion and New Orleans attack occurred within hours of New Year’s Day, the vehicles involved were rented through the app Turo, and the suspects have backgrounds in the U.S. military. .

Both served in the Army at Ft. Bragg, now known as Ft. They were members of the Liberty Army, but it is unclear whether they served at the same time or in the same unit.

Here’s what we know so far about the Cybertruck explosion and attack on New Year’s revelers in New Orleans.

cybertruck explosion

At least seven people were injured in an explosion outside President-elect Donald Trump’s compound near the Las Vegas Strip on Wednesday morning.

Police said Thursday that the driver suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head before the car exploded.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said Wednesday night that the bed of the truck was packed with firework mortars and fuel canisters, but investigators have not determined how they were ignited. .

McMahill said the truck was rented in Colorado, and an electronic license plate reader picked up the Cybertruck as it arrived in Las Vegas around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Authorities identified the driver as Matthew Libersberger and believe he acted alone. Libersberger was a member of the Army’s elite Green Berets, a special forces unit that specializes in guerrilla warfare, the Army said in a statement.

A fence is seen on Royal Street after a vehicle plowed into a crowd at Canal Street and Bourbon Street in New Orleans on Wednesday.

(George Walker IV/Associated Press)

attack in new orleans

Investigators said Thursday they believe the U.S. military veteran who attacked people enjoying a New Year’s party on Bourbon Street acted alone.

Law enforcement officials told the Times that two what appeared to be homemade explosives had been placed inside a blue water cooler near two eateries on the famous street. That information led authorities to believe someone other than the driver had put them there, officials said.

Authorities said Shamsuddin Jabbar, 42, drove a rented pickup truck with an Islamic State flag on top of a sidewalk and swerved around a police car that was blocking traffic. .

Jabbar then ran through the crowd around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday, killing at least 14 people and injuring dozens more.

Authorities said police killed Jabbar after he got out of his truck and opened fire on officers.

Law enforcement officials told the Times that Jabbar was wearing a bulletproof vest. After the shootout, investigators recovered a handgun and an AR-style rifle, law enforcement officials said.

Today’s top news

Hundreds of new laws went into effect in California on January 1st.

(Photo illustration from Los Angeles Times, photo from Getty Images)

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Los Angeles Police Department statistics show an increase in robberies. Was it really just shoplifting?

Los Angeles Police Department statistics show that robberies have increased in some areas this year, in part due to shoplifting incidents that resulted in felonies. Law enforcement officials attributed the increase to some retailers encouraging security guards to confront robbers more aggressively.

College-bound students fear “outing” undocumented parents on FAFSA financial aid form

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) asks for your parents’ social security numbers. With President-elect Donald Trump vowing mass deportations, some students are concerned that missing numbers could be a red flag about their parents’ immigration status. The news comes as Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration drafts a conceptual plan to assist undocumented immigrants under threat of deportation.

‘Alarming’ mutation found in bird flu virus that infected Canadian teenager

Genetic analysis of the virus that infected a 13-year-old girl shows eerie mutations that researchers suggest could more easily target human cells and cause severe disease. How, where, and how avian influenza viruses evolve and their ability to cause a pandemic is difficult to predict, but some say this is partly due to federal restrictions on gain-of-function research. researchers say.

what else is going on

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This morning’s must-read

(Josh Edelson/For the Times)

San Francisco will see a significant drop in drug overdose deaths in 2024. Experts believe that, in addition to improved access to drugs to reverse overdoses and alleviate opioid addiction, the effects of the coronavirus pandemic are waning.

Other must-reads:

How can we make this newsletter even more useful? Send your comments to [email protected].

for your downtime

It’s the beginning of a new year. Take time to plan your next adventure with our expert guide to monthly fun, road trips, self-care opportunities, and more in 2025.

(Heidi Burton/For the Times)

going out

During your stay

Question for you: What advice has changed your life?

Do you have any tips or advice for people looking to make a fresh start in 2025?

Gene Waller writes: “Your job is not who you are, only what you do. So don’t let it define you.”

George Meyer writes: “They can’t say ‘yes’ if you don’t ask.”

And J. Farkas writes: “In a yoga class, the instructor said, “Remember, the way you do something is the way you do everything.” This means that both your thoughts and your actions. Very deep guidelines for recognizing patterns. I’ve received a lot of good advice over the years, but this is probably the most helpful of all.”

Thank you very much for your many responses this week. It was great to hear your story!

And finally…your photo of the day

San Diego Zoo floats travel along Orange Grove Boulevard during the 136th Annual Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.

(Allen J. Scherben/Los Angeles Times)

Today’s great photo comes from staff photographer Allen J. Scherben, who recently covered the 136th Annual Rose Parade. (You can find more photos from the parade at this link.) The San Diego Zoo’s float won the parade’s top award.

Tell us about your favorite place in California! Send us a photo you took at a special place in California (natural or man-made) and tell us why it’s important to you.

Have a great day! From the Essential California team

Reporter Ryan Fonseca
Defne Karabattur, comrades
Andrew Campa, Sunday Reporter
Hunter Claus, Multiplatform Editor
Christian Orozco, Deputy Editor
Stephanie Chavez, Subway Deputy Editor
Karim Doumar, Head of Newsletter

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