A former FBI agent has warned that more terror attacks similar to the New Year’s tragedy in New Orleans are likely to occur, urging Americans to “remain vigilant”.
New Year’s celebrations in New Orleans turned to horror when a driver ploughed a truck into crowds on the iconic Bourbon Street.
There was also a Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas later on the same day, which left seven people with minor injuries.
However, the FBI has said that there is no definitive link between the two incidents.
James Hamilton said that Americans should remain viglelent
GB News
Former FBI Supervisory Special Agent James Hamilton told GB News: “It’s always a concern I don’t know about if terrorism is back in a big way, but it’s not difficult to have a sympathizer, to have someone who resonates with the message.
“He’s down on his luck. He decides, hey, I’m going to do something. It’s not terribly difficult. Look at what happened in New Orleans, though terrible and sad, it was not sophisticated.
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“It doesn’t take a genius to take a truck and run down and run people over and then get out with a gun and start shooting. There’s nothing sophisticated in that.
“It’s not sophisticated, but these things are going to happen. They’re going to continue to happen like you’ve seen in Europe. And we see here, and we have to continue to be vigilant, for sure.”
He added: “‘I’m not afraid, but I’m certainly prepared. I think that we would all do well to remember to be prepared.
“It’s great that we have this environment of safety. Safety seems to be a word that everyone likes to throw around.
The scene in New Orleans after the horror New Year’s Day attackREUTERS
“Do this to be safe, stand here and be safe during Covid. I would say we need to be realistic and be prudent and have a plan. Be prepared. It doesn’t mean stop living your life.
“No, I’m not afraid to go out. But I don’t go out and do stupid things.
“For instance, I don’t go into certain areas where I know I shouldn’t be or at certain times of the night where I probably shouldn’t be in those areas. Just be prudent because people can hurt you.”
An image of an Isis fighter flying an Isis flagReuters
The Cybertruck driver was identified as Matthew Livelsberger, 37, an active-duty Army soldier from Colorado Springs, and police said he acted alone.
Livelsberger, who was found with a firearm, shot himself, police said, citing a report from the Clark County Coroner/Medical Examiner.
The 37-year-old was inside the vehicle when gasoline canisters and large firework mortars in the truck bed exploded, police added.