Suspect in New Orleans acted alone, ‘no definitive link’ to Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion: FBI

Raia also said that there appeared to be no link between the attack in New Orleans and that in Las Vegas on the same day in which a Tesla Cybertruck packed with gasoline canisters and large firework mortars exploded in flames outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House on Jan. 20.

“At this point there is no definitive link between the attack here in New Orleans and the one in Las Vegas,” said Raia, adding that the investigation was in its earliest stages.

During the press conference, Raia said the suspect in New Orleans declared his affiliation with the Islamic State on social media.

“This was an act of terrorism. It was premeditated and an evil act,” Raia, told reporters adding that surveillance footage showed the suspect placing two explosive devices at the scene.

Jabbar, who was shot dead at the scene after firing at police, once served in Afghanistan. He drove from Houston to New Orleans on Dec. 31, and posted five videos on Facebook between 1:29 am and 3:02 am on the morning of the attack in which he said he supported IS, the Islamic militant group with fighters in Iraq and Syria, the FBI said.

In the first video, Jabbar explains he had previously planned to harm his family and friends, but was concerned that the media coverage would not focus on the “war between the believers and the disbelievers,” Raia said.

Jabbar said in the videos that he had joined IS before last summer and provided his last will and testament, Raia added.