Two devastating attacks on New Year’s Day — a vehicular assault in New Orleans and a car bombing in Las Vegas — have raised fears of Islamist and Jihadist extremism.
Despite glaring signs pointing toward radical motives, officials have been cautious in attributing these events to Islamic terrorism.
However, the details emerging from both attacks clearly suggest they bear the hallmarks of Islamic extremism, with investigators actively probing potential links.
New Orleans: A Brutal Assault
The first attack unfolded in the early hours of New Year’s Day in New Orleans, where a truck plowed into a crowd in the French Quarter, leaving 14 dead and dozens injured. Witnesses described a horrific scene, with victims crushed under the vehicle. Survivor Jimmy Cothran recounted, “A little girl that we had seen dancing as we were walking up the street was as flat as a pillow.”
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The driver, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was identified as a Texas-born man radicalised by Islamic extremism. According to family members, Jabbar had expressed admiration for ISIS, the jihadist organisation known for inspiring lone-wolf attacks in the West.
Authorities found an ISIS flag displayed on Jabbar’s truck, though first responders reportedly covered it soon after the attack — in the UK this would be considered as “tampering with evidence”.
Additionally, investigators uncovered potential improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted in the vicinity, a tactic frequently associated with ISIS operations.
Jabbar’s online activity further underscores his radicalisation. He reportedly posted videos crediting ISIS as his inspiration, mirroring the propaganda-driven self-radicalisation seen in other attacks. While authorities continue to investigate the exact motive, the attack’s similarities to previous and recent Islamist-inspired incidents might be a giveaway.
Las Vegas: A Coordinated Threat?
Matthew Alan Livelsberger, (Las Vegas Metro Police Department)
Hours after the New Orleans tragedy, a car bomb exploded outside the Trump International Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Matthew Alan Livelsberger, 37, of Colorado, has been named as being responsible.
Although no casualties were reported other than that of the bomber himself, the attack caused significant damage and heightened fears of a coordinated effort.
Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill addressed the media, acknowledging “a number of similarities” between the Las Vegas bombing and the New Orleans attack.
“It’s not lost on us that it’s in front of … the Trump building, that it’s a Tesla vehicle,” Spencer Evans, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Las Vegas division, said at a news conference Thursday. “But we don’t have information at this point that definitively tells us, or suggests, it was because of this particular ideology.”
Livelsberger, interestingly, has been reported as a fan of Donald Trump, suggesting that the attack was not inspired by domestic political issues as such.
Both assailants, and Livelsberger, had military backgrounds, serving on the same U.S. Army base, Fort Bragg.
Additionally, they used the same car-rental platform to facilitate their attacks, prompting investigators to explore whether these acts were coordinated. While some details about Livelsberger remain under wraps, the parallels between the two incidents have fuelled speculation about a broader network or shared “ideological” motivation.
A Growing Domestic Threat
Jabbar’s case is particularly alarming because he was born and raised in Texas, confirming the ability of extremist ideologies to radicalise individuals within free, democratic societies. This trend has been observed in other Western nations, where homegrown extremists carry out attacks inspired by groups like ISIS.
Taleb Al-Abdulmohsen
The New Orleans assault also draws comparisons to a similar attack in Germany just weeks earlier.
In that incident, Saudi-born doctor Taleb Al-Abdulmohsen drove into a crowded Christmas market, killing five, including a 9-year-old child, and injuring hundreds.
Although Al-Abdulmohsen identified himself publicly as “anti-Islamist” his modus operandi was textbook Jihadi.
The use of vehicles as weapons — a tactic encouraged by ISIS propaganda — continues to pose a significant challenge to counter-terrorism efforts worldwide.
Political and Social Implications
Critics have questioned the reluctance of officials to label these attacks as acts of Islamist terrorism. The swift removal of the ISIS flag from Jabbar’s vehicle and the careful language used by authorities have sparked accusations of downplaying the ideological aspect of the attacks.
Denial is dangerous, and many would argue that acknowledging the role of Islamic extremism is crucial for crafting effective counterterrorism strategies.
The attacks also reignite debates about the role of social media in radicalisation. Platforms that allow extremist propaganda to flourish have come under scrutiny, with calls for stricter regulations to curb the spread of jihadist content.
A Call for Vigilance
As investigators continue to piece together the details of the New Orleans and Las Vegas attacks, one thing is clear: the threat of Islamist extremism remains a pressing concern. The ability of groups like ISIS to inspire individuals across the globe underscores the need for vigilance, robust intelligence-sharing, and proactive counterterrorism measures.
These attacks serve as a grim reminder to those who are not afraid to face the truth that the Islamist’s ideology of hate and violence knows no borders.
Turning a blind eye to the evidence will not prevent such tragedies occurring again, and again, and again…..
