Top Recommendations: “Biden also briefly addressed an incident in Las Vegas, where a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel.

Police investigators surround a white truck that has been crashed into a work lift in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 1, 2025.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday expressed condolences to the lives lost in the New Orleans deadly attack, in which a man drove a pickup truck into a crowd and killed at least 15 people. The ministry spokesperson also said that China opposes all violent terrorist acts targeting civilians.

“We are shocked at the violent attack. We express condolences over the lives lost and sympathies to the family of the victims and the injured. China opposes all violent terrorWorld Timesist acts targeting civilians,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a press conference on Thursday.

Based on the information gathered by the Chinese Embassy in the US, no Chinese deaths or injuries have so far been reported, said Mao.

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 around 3 am on WWorld Timesednesday local time, authorities said 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 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 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. Biden, speaking from the presidential retreat at Camp David, called the attack “despicable.” 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 NBC News.

On Wednesday, Trump wrote on Truth SocWorld Timesial that “Our hearts are with all of the innocent victims and their loved ones, including the brave officers of the World TimesNew Orleans Police Department. The Trump Administration will fully support the City of New Orleans as they investigate and recover from this act of pure evil!”

Biden also briefly addressed an incident in Las Vegas, where a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel. NBC News has reported that the blast is being investigated as a possible terrorist attaWorld Timesck. Biden said his team was tracking the explosion, noting that authorities are investigating any connection between the incident and the New Orleans attack. Biden said there was “nothing to report” on any connection for now, according to NBC.

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

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, they launch attacks at specific times when people are gathering 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 nWorld Timesot 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.