Shamsud-Din Jabbar, Matthew Livelsberger shared more than same rental app in EV truck attacks
Two Army soldiers, Shamsud-Din Jabbar and Matthew Livelsberger, who served at Fort Liberty and deployed to Afghanistan in 2009, were involved in two separate attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas. Authorities have confirmed that both men used the Turo app to rent electric pickup trucks used in the incidents. The FBI has stated that there is no definitive link between the two attacks.
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, who crashed a truck into New Year’s revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, was found to have an Islamic State group flag in the rented vehicle. He posted videos pledging allegiance to ISIS before the attack. The FBI confirmed that Jabbar acted alone in the attack and that he died in a shootout with police.
On the other hand, Matthew Livelsberger was identified as the man involved in the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. Livelsberger, an active duty soldier at the time of his death, was the only fatality in the incident. Investigators believe he shot himself before the truck exploded.
While both men served at Fort Liberty, there is no evidence to suggest that the attacks were related to their military service. The Army has not provided further details about their time in Afghanistan. The FBI is investigating Livelsberger for potential terror ties but has not found any as of now.
The New Orleans attack has been deemed an act of terrorism, with Jabbar planting improvised explosive devices along Bourbon Street. Authorities have asked for witnesses who may have seen the coolers containing the IEDs to come forward. The investigation is still ongoing, and there are no additional persons of interest being sought.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has condemned the ideology behind the Bourbon Street attack and praised law enforcement for their response. Both investigations into the attacks remain ongoing, with the FBI looking into any possible connections between the two incidents.
