Two separate New Year's Day attacks, one involving a truck ramming in New Orleans and the other a fatal explosion in Las Vegas, were both carried out by military veterans with potential ties to radicalization. Though the motives appear distinct, the investigations offer valuable insights into preventing future tragedies.
Americans were shaken by acts of violence committed in our own cities by men with military backgrounds on New Year's Day. Their motivations appear to be very different, but details that emerge from both investigations could help prevent similar incidents in the future.
Authorities say 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, an Army veteran from Texas, rammed a truck into a New Year’s Eve crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing 14 and injuring dozens before he was killed in a shootout with police. Meanwhile, authorities said the Las Vegas explosion involved a highly decorated Green Beret who took his own life amid mental health struggles. “Although this incident is more public and more sensational than usual, it ultimately appears to be a tragic case of suicide involving a heavily decorated combat veteran who was struggling with PTSD and other issues,” Spencer Evans, the FBI special agent in charge in Las Vegas, said Friday. That soldier, Matthew Livelsberger, wrote about needing “to cleanse my mind of the brothers I've lost and relieve myself of the burden of the lives I took,” law enforcement officials said. As for the New Orleans attack, Cohen said answers will be easier to come by once we have a complete picture of how Jabbar became radicalized. “We don't really know when the radicalization happens,” Cohen said. “This may be after he leaves the service.” Cohen said radicalization of military members or veterans has been a concern long before these acts of violence on New Year’s Day. A study from the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, or START, at the University of Maryland found that there’s a limited, but possibly growing, connection between extremism and military service. From 1990 through 2023, 730 individuals with U.S. military service have been linked to terrorism or violence, according to the study
Security Military Veterans Terrorism Radicalization New Orleans Las Vegas
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
New Year's Day Truck Attack in New Orleans Kills 10A man intentionally drove a truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, killing 10 and injuring dozens. Police killed the driver in a shootout. Authorities are investigating it as a possible act of terrorism.
Read more »
Superdome on Lockdown After New Year's Day Truck Attack in New OrleansThe Superdome in New Orleans was on lockdown for security sweeps after a truck plowed into a New Year's crowd, killing 10 people and injuring more than 30. The Sugar Bowl game between Georgia and Notre Dame, scheduled for Wednesday night, was not immediately delayed.
Read more »
Superdome on Lockdown After New Year's Day Truck Attack in New OrleansThe Superdome in New Orleans, scheduled to host a College Football Playoff game, was on lockdown following a deadly truck attack in the French Quarter on New Year's Day.
Read more »
New Orleans New Year's Day Truck Attack Suspect IdentifiedA U.S. citizen, Shamsud Din Jabbar, rammed his pickup truck into crowds on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing at least 10 people and injuring 35 more. Jabbar died in a shootout with police. Authorities are investigating if a black flag on his truck is linked to ISIS and if he used a rifle during the attack.
Read more »
New Orleans Truck Attack Claims Two Lives on New Year's DayA pickup truck plowed into a crowd celebrating New Year's on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing two people and injuring several others. Shamsud-Din Jabbar is accused of deliberately driving into the crowd. Victims include Nicole Perez, 27, and a man identified as Hunter Jackson, 37.
Read more »
New Orleans Truck Attack Claims Multiple Lives on New Year's DayA pickup truck plowed into a crowd celebrating New Year's on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, leaving multiple dead and several injured. The suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, is alleged to have intentionally targeted the crowd. Victims include Nicole Perez, 27, and three others.
Read more »