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The death toll rose to 15 after a man drove a pickup truck into New Year revelers in New Orleans of the southern US state of Louisiana early Wednesday morning, authorities updated at a press conference, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Two improvised explosive devices were confirmed to have been found in the pickup, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Officials said they were hunting for possible connections to terrorist organizations and the suspect, who was shot dead by responding police on the scene, may not be "solely responsible" for the attack, Xinhua reported. 

The suspect of the car attack on Wednesday, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a former US Army veteran, had an ISIS flag in his vehicle, according to the New York Times. After retiring, he worked in real estate, but his behavior recently became erratic, prompting his family to limit contact with his children. The FBI suspects he may have accomplices, and the investigation is ongoing.   

According to NBC News, the suspect in the New Orleans attack posted videos to social media “indicating he was inspired by ISIS, expressing a desire to kill,” US President Joe Biden said in his address to the nation, citing information from the FBI.  

"The ISIS flag was found in his vehicle," Biden added.

Biden, speaking from the presidential retreat at Camp David, called the attack a “despicable” and “heinous act.” Addressing the victims and the people of New Orleans, he said: “I want you to know I grieve with you. Our nation grieves with you as you mourn and as you heal,” according to the AP.

There were also deadly explosions in Honolulu and outside a Las Vegas hotel owned by President-elect Donald Trump. Biden said the FBI is looking into whether the Las Vegas explosion was connected to the New Orleans attack but had “nothing to report” as of Wednesday evening.

The suspicious blast is being investigated as a possible terrorist attack, three senior law enforcement members briefed on the matter told NBC News. A motive has yet to be established.

Authorities are exploring whether there is any connection between the explosion and the attack in New Orleans, where a suspect rammed into a crowd with a truck rented on Turo, though one has not been determined yet, CNN reported.

The Tesla Cybertruck, which exploded outside the Trump Hotel Las Vegas killing one person and injuring at least seven others, rented on Turo. This is the same app that was used in the truck involved in the attack in New Orleans, CCTV News reported, citing several US law enforcement officers. 

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Wednesday that the explosion involving a rented Cybertruck was caused by large fireworks or a bomb in the truck bed.

"We have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself," said Musk on X. "All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion.”

The attack in New Orleans, according to US media reports, appears to have some links to ISIS. In recent years, ISIS has ramped up its global propaganda efforts, particularly after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, said Zhu Yongbiao, a professor from School of Politics and International Relations in Lanzhou University.

The group has been using the internet to bolster its recruitment and mobilization, urging its supporters to carry out so-called “holy wars.” For the perpetrators, launching attacks at specific times when people are gathering is a strategy to maximize panic and shock, Zhu told the Global Times on Thursday.  

Since 9/11, the US has experienced numerous lone-wolf terrorist attacks, and the threat of such incidents remains. Terrorism continues to be a significant concern not only for the US but also for Europe and other regions worldwide. During holidays, when crowds gather for celebrations and various events, the increased assembly and movement of people pose heightened challenges to security efforts, the expert noted.

Just in late December, a Saudi psychiatrist deliberately drove a rented BMW SUV through a German Christmas market, killing five and injuring more than 200. His motive remains under investigation, USA Today reported, citing local authorities.  

The suspect, a 50-year-old psychiatrist who has lived in Germany for almost two decades, was arrested at the scene, according to Reuters.

Global Times