Jan. 4—With two separate attacks involving vehicles rented from the Turo app, 2025 began in tragedy. In light of these events, the FBI is urging vigilance.
“What happened here in New Orleans was an act of terrorism. It was premeditated and an evil act,” said Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia from the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters in a press release from Jan 2.
Early Wednesday morning, Shamsud-din Jabbar — an American-born Veteran— plowed through a New Year’s Eve crowd gathered on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, killing 14 and injuring dozens of others.
Several hours later Matthew Livelsberger — another highly-decorated veteran and Green Beret — died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after detonating a cruedly-built explosive device in a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas. No other fatalities or damage to the hotel were reported.
As of now, the FBI sees “no known definitive link” between the two attacks, according to the press release.
Though such events are not as common in smaller communities like Vermilion County, local authorities are aware of the increased threat posed by such attacks, and prepared to handle them should they arise.
“We have standard operating procedures for critical incidents and mass casualties,” Danville Police Chief Christopher Yates said, declining to provide further public comment on the Danville Police Department’s line of defense.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has offered a self-assessment tool for judging the safety of a public gathering when it comes to the ease with which a vehicle could ram crowds.
A safety guide is also available for those attending public gatherings outside. Though it’s not necessarily easy to predict when someone plans to use a vehicle to kill, there are some potential warning signs, including:
* Observed difficulties in operating a rented vehicle, such as a large or heavy-duty truck, indicating a lack of familiarity from prior usage or experience.
* Loitering, parking, or standing in the same area over multiple days with no reasonable explanation.
* Unexplained use of binoculars, cameras, and recording devices
In the event a vehicle ramming were to occur, the CISA advises people to run to the nearest safe area while moving away from the source of hazard. If on the ground, curl into a protected position and try to get up as soon as possible to avoid being trampled.
If escape is impossible, people are advised to seek cover behind something large and out of the line of sight of the attacker, and call 911 as soon as it’s safe to do so.