Biden assures fast-tracked investigations after deadly attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas

US President Joe Biden convened a meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris and the homeland security team on January 2 to discuss the ongoing investigations into the recent terrorist attack in New Orleans and the bombing incident outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas.

According to a statement from the White House press service, Biden was briefed on the investigations and was informed about the progress being made, Caliber.Az reports.

“I instructed my team to continue committing all resources to complete the investigations as quickly as possible,” Biden said during the meeting.

The meeting included US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Brown, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and other key officials from the Biden administration.

The investigation into the New Orleans terrorist attack revealed that the assailant was a veteran of the US Armed Forces. “The FBI has informed me that the killer was a US citizen. He was born in Texas, served in the US military for many years, and was an Army reservist until very recently,” Biden said. He also added that the assailant had posted a video on social media hours before the attack, expressing his admiration for ISIS (the Islamic State terrorist group) and his intention to kill. "He indicated that he was inspired by ISIS and expressed a desire to kill," Biden explained.

The attack in New Orleans resulted in the deaths of 15 people and injuries to more than 30 others. The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Shamsuddin Jabbar, a former US serviceman from Texas, drove a pickup truck into a crowd before exiting the vehicle and opening fire. Police officers responded, killing Jabbar before he could harm more individuals. "I thank the first responders and law enforcement officers who stopped the attacker in his tracks before he could kill more people," Biden remarked.

In Houston, Texas, law enforcement authorities conducted an 11-hour search in connection with the New Orleans incident, particularly related to a hit-and-run involving a pedestrian. However, officials did not provide specific details about what they were searching for. The FBI’s SWAT team, bomb technicians, counterterrorism experts, and crisis negotiators were involved, though no arrests were made, and residents were assured there was no immediate danger.

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, another investigation continued into the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck loaded with fireworks outside the Trump International Hotel. Authorities confirmed that Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old Green Beret, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound just before the vehicle exploded. "Livelsberger likely planned a more damaging attack, but the steel-sided vehicle absorbed much of the force from the explosion," said Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill.

The explosion caused minor injuries to seven people but left virtually no damage to the hotel. Investigators believe Livelsberger, who had recently returned from an overseas assignment in Germany, was on approved leave at the time. "He may have gotten into a fight with his wife about relationship issues shortly before renting the Tesla and purchasing the firearms," a law enforcement official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Both cases remain under investigation, with federal authorities working to uncover more details about the motivations behind these violent incidents.

By Tamilla Hasanova