Wave of New Year terror attacks: What we know about the incidents in the USA and Montenegro that shook the world.
A wave of terrorist attacks swept through the USA during the New Year celebrations, along with a mass shooting in Montenegro. As a result, dozens of people lost their lives and sustained injuries.
RBK-Ukraine has compiled information on the tragic events in the USA and Montenegro and their consequences.
USA
Car Ramming Incident in New Orleans
In New Orleans, a white Ford pickup truck crashed into a crowd on Bourbon Street—a popular tourist destination for New Year's celebrations—at high speed. After the incident, the driver exited the vehicle and opened fire, prompting the police to return fire. During the shootout, two police officers were injured, according to ABC News.
The authorities believe the driver deliberately drove into the crowd, aiming to cause maximum harm. As of the latest reports, 15 people have died, and another 35 were injured. Preliminary indications suggest that most of the victims were local residents. The assailant, according to media reports, was killed during the exchange of gunfire.
The Mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, referred to the incident as a terrorist attack. The FBI stated that it is investigating the events as a terrorist act. Although the Bureau did not initially reach this conclusion, as its representatives initially indicated that they did not consider the incident to be a terrorist attack.
New Orleans Police spokesperson Ann Kirkpatrick stated that the suspect "was trying to hit as many people as possible." According to her, this individual was "obsessed with the idea of causing bloodshed and harm."
The FBI identified the suspect as 42-year-old American citizen Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, a Texas resident who previously served in Afghanistan. Investigators clarified that he was born in the USA and had citizenship from birth.
According to officials, a flag of ISIS was found in the veteran's vehicle. He bypassed makeshift barriers near the sidewalk and drove into a crowded area of New Orleans. It is suspected that the attack may have been carried out with the assistance of others. The investigation is also looking into possible connections between the assailant and terrorist groups.
Police found weapons and a potential explosive device in the car, and two potential explosive devices were discovered in the French Quarter and neutralized.
According to U.S. President Joe Biden, the assailant posted a video on social media indicating that during the ramming, he was inspired by the ideas of the "Islamic State" and had a "desire to kill."
Photo: part of the French Quarter blocked after the mass shooting (Getty Images)
President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office later this month, also reacted to the emergency incident, calling the event in New Orleans "an act of pure evil" on social media.
Local authorities, in turn, urged citizens to avoid the Bourbon Street area. Meanwhile, world leaders are expressing overwhelming support for the American people.
President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on social media X that "Ukraine is shocked by the news of the attack in New Orleans, which resulted in the deaths of innocent people and many injuries." He expressed hope that those responsible for this horrific attack would be held accountable.
Explosion of Tesla Cybertruck near Trump Hotel in Las Vegas
Just a few hours after the terrorist attack in New Orleans, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded and caught fire near the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. As a result, the driver of the vehicle died, and seven others were injured.
Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill reported that the vehicle was rented through the car-sharing service Turo in Colorado. The identity of the renter has been established, but the information has not been officially disclosed until it is confirmed whether this was the same individual who was driving the Tesla Cybertruck and died as a result of the incident.
Tesla owner Elon Musk provided video footage to the investigation, which revealed that the vehicle entered the parking area of Trump International Hotel and remained there for about 15-20 seconds before the explosion.
Photo: Cybertruck after the explosion near Trump International Hotel (Getty Images)
He believes the explosion could have been a terrorist act. In particular, he noted that the Ford pickup that crashed into the crowd in New Orleans and this Tesla Cybertruck were both rented through the same vehicle rental platform.
Musk also stated, following an internal investigation at Tesla, that the explosion of the Cybertruck was caused by a large quantity of fireworks or a bomb inside the vehicle and was not related to the electric vehicle itself.
Sheriff McMahill stated that the police will investigate whether these two incidents are indeed connected. This was also mentioned by Biden during a television address on Wednesday evening.
However, as of now, law enforcement has not found any links between these incidents. The FBI believes that the Cybertruck explosion was a separate event and no longer poses a threat to the public, CNN reports.
According to McMahill, pyrotechnics and gasoline canisters were indeed found in the electric vehicle. After reviewing surveillance footage, the police also determined that the car passed by Trump Hotel an hour before the explosion, then returned, stopped at the entrance—and within seconds caught fire and exploded.
This morning, KTNV-TV reported that police have identified the suspect in the explosion of the Tesla Cybertruck in Las Vegas as 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger, who previously served in the U.S. Army.
The channel, citing federal sources, adds that since the suspect in Las Vegas and the suspect in the deadly attack in New Orleans both served in the military, the FBI is investigating a connection between them.
Shooting near a Club in New York
Another incident in the USA occurred in New York City on January 1. Around 11:20 PM local time, a mass shooting took place near a nightclub called Amazura, located near the Jamaica Long Island Rail Road station in the Queens area.
According to the New York Post, citing sources and the New York City Police, as a result, at least 11 people—mostly teenagers—were injured. The publication reports that a group of four men fired at least 30 shots into a crowd that was leaving the club after a private event.
According to law enforcement, the injured were taken to local hospitals. However, none of them are reported to be in critical condition.
It is reported that Amazura has a spacious hall that can accommodate 4,000 people, where DJs regularly perform and live shows take place.
The police are currently searching for a gray Infiniti in connection with the shooting. Additionally, local authorities have identified a white BMW that may be involved in the incident and are conducting further investigations. The identities of the suspects have not yet been established.
Montenegro
Mass Shooting in Cetinje
A horrific event also occurred on January 1 in Montenegro. At least 12 people, including two children, were killed as a result of a shooting in the town of Cetinje. Four others were injured. The tragedy reportedly arose from a domestic dispute in one of the local bars.
The assailant is known to be 45-year-old Aco Martynovic. A report from local media RTCG states that this individual is known for his strange behavior and has previously been detained for illegal possession of firearms. In 2005, Martynovic was sentenced to a year of probation for aggressive behavior but was not treated as a person of interest for security services.
Additionally, in 2022, Martynovic was found with weapons and explosives, for which he was sentenced to three months in prison.
Preliminary information indicates that on January 1, 2025, after arguing in a bar with one of the patrons, he went home for a weapon, returned, and shot the owner of the establishment and several others. He then continued shooting on the street.
According to local prosecutors, the murders were committed in five different locations in the city. Among the victims were members of his family and the family of the bar owner, including two children.
The suspect fled the scene, and during his arrest, he attempted suicide and died en route to the hospital.
The President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatovic, reacted to the emergency, stating that he was "shocked and shaken" by the tragedy.
"Instead of festive joy... we are engulfed in sorrow due to the loss of innocent lives," Milatovic wrote on social media X.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajic visited the hospital where the injured are being treated and announced a three-day mourning period from January 2 to 4, canceling all mass events.
Media attention has been drawn to the fact that small-sized Montenegro, with a population of around 620,000, is known for