Prominent figures at the event included New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Nominee Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, and National League of Cities CEO Clarence Jones. CAM noted that other attendees included Phyllis Dickerson of the African American Mayors Association, Sherri Tarr of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, US District Court Judge Roy Altman, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, and former Gaza hostage Almog Meir Jan.

At the concluding banquet at the Caesars Superdome, Mayor Adams unveiled executive orders prohibiting city personnel from boycotting Israel and securing religious freedom in New York. "I say to my Jewish brothers and sisters – your legacy in this generation is to say we run no more. We stand and fight. We don't live in fear, hoping that it goes away," Adams declared, per CAM. "We must stop antisemitism because we are all connected, and we're all involved in this together."

In conversation with CAM leadership, nominee Yehuda Kaploun remarked, "Fighting antisemitism is a moral obligation for all of us. Antisemitism is anti-American. Racism is anti-American. This is not what the Founding Fathers wanted for our country, and the fact we're having this conversation on the eve of America's 250th birthday means we all have a better job to do."

"Myself, the president, the secretary of state, and the entire administration are going to work tirelessly to make sure religious liberty, justice, and restoring respect for humanity for everybody is the goal," Kaploun continued, according to the organizers. "I will be your best partner, and the administration will be your best partner. Reach out, and I will help."

At the opening dinner, the host, Mayor Cantrell stated, "While we're standing together against antisemitism, we're standing together against every form of hate, wherever it is, and however it comes." She added, "It's not just about one, it's about all," and noted, "You can't stand against hate on just one side. It's all or nothing."

CAM CEO Sacha Roytman addressed the officials: "We know the responsibility that comes with leading a city, and we know that fighting antisemitism is only one of the many challenges you face. Your presence today shows that, like us, you are looking for solutions and you want your cities to be safe for the Jewish community and for everyone who calls them home."

"This summit is about ensuring that history does not repeat itself," Roytman stressed, per the report. "This summit is a call for leadership, courage, and partnership."

Lisa Katz, CAM's Chief Government Affairs Officer, told the plenary session, "Antisemitism is not a niche issue. It is racism. It is conspiracy thinking. It is dehumanization. And once it is unleashed, it never stays confined to one group."

"This summit is about a toolbox and a network – real relationships among mayors so you can lean on each other when any community is under threat," Katz added.

Mayor Smiley, heading the CAM Mayors Advisory Board, said, "I'm here at my third CAM conference, because I have found this conference to be exactly what mayors look for when we take time out of our schedule to travel – information that is informative, timely, and real practical and actionable steps that we walk away with. And right now we have a community in each of our cities that is under attack."

"I know that each of our communities is different, but it has gotten harder for all of us," Smiley observed, according to CAM. "We have a lot of work to do. There are antisemitic voices on the fringes of both sides of the political spectrum. While they may be fringes, I think we all know they are often loud, especially online. Your cities and towns need you, your Jewish communities need you, and every other online group in your community needs – whether they know it or not – to see you fighting for this issue."

CAM honored Mayors Nancy Rotering and Alix Desulme with the Mayor of Courage Award. "This fight against antisemitism requires more than just statements," Desulme said. "It demands education, especially from us, municipal leaders, who are on the frontlines every day, and we are closest to the people. We see the consequences of hate, misinformation, and vision, and our neighborhood are our front and center."

Josh and Julia Zuckerman provided testimony about vandalism at their home in New Orleans. "What happened to us can happen to anyone anywhere, in any city, in any home," they said, per CAM. "Please believe your Jewish communities when they say something is wrong. Take them seriously when they ask for help and security. Understand these threats are real. Be brave. Your leadership matters. Your voice matters. And your choices – what you condemn, what you fund, what you prioritize – can make the difference between a family feeling safe or feeling hunted."

CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities and former Mayor of South Bay, Florida Clarence Anthony advised the mayors: "Mayors set the moral tone in your communities. When you speak, speak unequivocally against hate, no matter what form it comes in. Stand up quickly. Respond responsibly around issues of safety. Encourage your residents to report hate crimes, because data tells the story. Build a collaborative coalition across your communities. And model courage."

US District Court Judge Roy Altman, reflecting on his family's survival of the Holocaust, stated, "We are not going back to the killing fields of Babi Yar and the gas chambers of Auschwitz, because it's not the American way," according to the report. "Because we as Americans, we object, and we will never let it happen again, so long as people of good faith like each and every one of you are willing to stand up and lead."

The summit featured workshops on extremist threats, student safety, and legal frameworks, alongside a City Action Lab led by former Mayor Gabriel Groisman. CAM noted that the event, supported by the City of New Orleans and other partners, follows previous gatherings in Frankfurt, Athens, Fort Lauderdale, Dortmund, Beverly Hills, Gold Coast, and Paris.

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Federal authorities have discovered that two suspects in separate New Year's Day attacks that killed at least 16 people served at the same military installation, sources told Denver7 Investigates, potentially linking the two incidents that shocked the nation.

Sources familiar with the investigation revealed to Denver7 Chief Investigator Tony Kovaleski that Matthew Livelsberger, suspected in the Las Vegas Tesla explosion, and Shamsud-Din Jabbar, accused in the New Orleans vehicle attack, shared a military service connection.

Livelsberger is accused of detonating a rented Tesla Cybertruck packed with firework mortars and gas cans outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, killing himself and injuring seven others. The vehicle was rented in Colorado Springs, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Hours earlier in New Orleans, Jabbar allegedly drove a pickup truck into crowds celebrating New Year's on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, killing 15 people and injuring dozens more. The attack occurred near the site of a scheduled College Football Playoff game.

Both suspects obtained their vehicles through the Turo car rental marketplace. A company spokesperson stated that neither suspect "had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat."

Military records show Jabbar enlisted in the Army in March 2007, serving in human resources and information technology roles. He deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010 before transferring to the US Army Reserve in 2015. He reached the rank of staff sergeant before leaving the service in July 2020, according to Army statements reported by the Associated Press.

Investigators believe Jabbar, who was killed by law enforcement, did not act alone in the New Orleans attack.

Both incidents are being investigated as possible acts of terrorism, and authorities are examining the military service connection as a potential link between the attacks, sources told Denver7.

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One person was killed and seven suffered minor injuries when a Tesla Cybertruck exploded Wednesday morning in front of the entrance to Trump International, Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a news conference.

The person who died was in the Cybertruck, and McMahill said it was unclear if it was a man or a woman.

According to Jeremy Schwartz, acting special agent in charge for the FBI's Las Vegas office, authorities also are trying to determine whether the explosion was an act of terrorism but believe it was an "isolated incident."

McMahill acknowledged the possible political implications.

"It's a Tesla truck, and we know that Elon Musk is working with President-elect (Donald) Trump and it's the Trump tower, so there's obviously things to be concerned about there, and it's something we continue to look at," he said.

Police were told the truck pulled up to the hotel entrance and emitted smoke, which was followed by a large explosion, McMahill said. He played a drone video for reporters that showed gasoline canisters, camp fuel cans and firework mortars in the bed of the truck.

The hotel was evacuated, and many guests went to Resorts World, he said. According to a spokesperson for Clark County, two people were taken to a hospital. Clark County Deputy Fire Chief Billy Samuels later said they had been released.

Ties to New Orleans attack?

Biden was briefed on the explosion, which happened hours after a driver crashed a truck into a crowd in New Orleans' French Quarter early New Year's Day, killing 15 people before being fatally shot by police.

The truck that exploded in Las Vegas and the truck used in New Orleans were both rented from the Turo app, a "coincidence" authorities will continue to examine, McMahill said.

Biden said the driver who committed the New Orleans attack, a US Army veteran whose truck carried the Islamic State group's flag, had posted videos on social media before the attack in which he said he was inspired by the Islamic State and wanted to kill.

McMahill said authorities are investigating the possibility of a connection between the two events but have not found any indication that the Las Vegas explosion was tied to IS.

"We're very well aware of what has happened in New Orleans with the event that occurred there and the number of victims there and the additional IDs, so, as you can imagine, with an explosion here on iconic Las Vegas Boulevard, we are taking all of the precautions that we need to take to keep our community safe," he said. "We're looking for secondary devices. We're taking it slow."

He said there does not appear to be any additional threat.

The truck was rented from Turo in Colorado and arrived in Las Vegas around 7:30 a.m., according to McMahill. He said it drove up and down Las Vegas Boulevard before pulling into the Trump property.

McMahill said officials know who rented the truck but are not ready to release an identification until they are positive about the name and have notified family.

A Wednesday statement attributed to a Turo spokesman said the company is "heartbroken by the violence perpetrated in New Orleans and Las Vegas, and our prayers are with the victims and families."

"We are actively partnering with law enforcement authorities as they investigate both incidents," the statement continued. "We do not believe that either renter involved in the Las Vegas and New Orleans attacks had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat. We remain committed to maintaining the highest standards in risk management, thanks to our world-class trust and safety technologies and teams that include experienced former law enforcement professionals."

The evil knuckleheads picked the wrong vehicle for a terrorist attack. Cybertruck actually contained the explosion and directed the blast upwards.

Not even the glass doors of the lobby were broken. https://t.co/9vj1JdcRZV

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 2, 2025

In a post on X on Wednesday afternoon, Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote: "The whole Tesla senior team is investigating this matter right now. … We've never seen anything like this."

In a later post, he wrote, "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."

What witnesses saw

Oscar Terol, who was visiting Las Vegas from Barcelona, Spain, and staying at the hotel, said he saw the explosion through the lobby windows. The force was so strong it knocked him down, he said.

He said he saw what looked like fireworks and heard a series of booms.

The fire was reported just after 8:40 a.m. at 2000 Fashion Show Drive, according to the Clark County Fire Department's PulsePoint app.

Fashion Show Drive was closed in both directions from Sammy Davis Jr. Drive to Las Vegas Boulevard South, according to the Regional Transportation Commission's X account.

Ana Bruce, who was visiting from Brazil, said she heard three explosions.

"The first one where we saw the fire, the second one, I guess, was the battery or something like that, and the third was the big one that smoked the entire area and was the moment when everyone was told to evacuate and stay away," Bruce said.

Her travel companion, Alcides Antunes, took a video that showed flames on the sides of the silver vehicle.

Mike Campbell, a guest at the hotel, said he heard a loud boom that shook the windows of the tower. When he took the elevator to pick up his car around 9:15 a.m., it smelled like paint thinner, he said.

'The smoke was terrible'

Tom and Debra Miller, visiting from Iowa, were in the elevator on the opposite side of Trump tower when the explosion went off. They were evacuated quickly and had not able to return as of 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Debra Miller said the couple spoke to a man who was having breakfast in the lobby when the explosion went off.

"It blew him out of his seat, he said. The smoke was terrible. I don't know if it was the battery, but I can still smell it on me," she said. "I'm just thankful they didn't do it on the Strip last night when everybody was out."

Access points to the parking garages for the Fashion Show mall were blocked by police Wednesday, but multiple people who were inside shopping had no idea an explosion had even occurred. Guests interviewed at Resorts World, which is located near Trump International, didn't know about the explosion, either.

Eric Trump, a son of Trump and executive vice president of the Trump Organization, posted about the fire on X, praising the Fire Department and local law enforcement "for their swift response and professionalism."

Originally published by the Las Vegas Review-Journal

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A devastating attack Wednesday transformed New Year's celebrations in New Orleans into scenes of horror as a truck attack followed by a shooting rampage left at least ten dead and thirty wounded in the historic French Quarter. The discovery of an explosive device in the attacker's vehicle has elevated the incident to a federal terrorism investigation. ABC News reports that the suspect has been neutralized by law enforcement, ending an hours-long manhunt across the city.

The attack occurred during peak celebration hours, with thousands gathered in the popular tourist district. The Georgia college football team, in town for the Sugar Bowl championship, was among those in the vicinity, though none of their members were reported among the casualties.

Video: Scene of the attack / Credit: Social media

"It was an extraordinary night of celebrations that turned into a nightmare," Israel Hayom correspondent Shimon Yaish, who is also in New Orleans for the game, reported during the attack.

A cafe employee near the attack site, who witnessed the aftermath, described the scene before the suspect was neutralized, "The uncertainty is terrifying. The attacker could be anywhere. We're all waiting anxiously for news of his capture. The death toll stands at least at ten, according to current reports."

Emergency services continue to treat casualties while counter-terrorism units secure the area. The FBI leads the investigation, working in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies.

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While the levees in New Orleans, which were rebuilt after Katrina, appear to have held during Ida, the long duration of hurricane force winds caused trees to snap, power lines to crumble, shingles to fly off homes and other damage.

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Jewish community leaders in New Orleans say it will be several days before the full impact of Hurricane Ida will be known, but so far it seems that the community's infrastructure remains largely intact.

"We just endured one of the worst hurricanes in our country's history in terms of severity, and while there is extensive damage throughout parts of the southern Louisiana, we are grateful in New Orleans for several things, including the limited loss of life at this point, that our city's levees built after Hurricane Katrina held and that flooding in the neighborhoods seems minimal," said Arnie Fielkow, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans and a former city council member, who evacuated with his family on Sunday morning.

One of the biggest challenges facing New Orleans overall, he continued, is the lack of power throughout the city. In some areas, including Metairie, there is also a lack of clean, fresh water.

According to Entergy, the company that provides power to New Orleans, "as a result of Ida's catastrophic intensity, major transmission lines that deliver power to NOLA are currently out of service. We know of one downed transmission line that spans the Mississippi River. The destroyed tower withstood Katrina."

Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana as a category three storm 16 years ago. A massive failure of the city's levee system led to massive flooding and resulted in the deaths of more than 1,800 people.

While the levees in New Orleans, which were rebuilt after Katrina, appear to have held during Ida, the long duration of hurricane force winds caused trees to snap, power lines to crumble, shingles to fly off homes and other damage.

But the physical damage from the storm, at least in Jewish neighborhoods, seems to be limited. According to Fielkow, a survey of the exterior of the Jewish federation building, which shares a campus with a JCC and a Jewish day school, showed no major damage.

Rabbi Josh Pernick, the Oscar J. Tolmas Rabbinic Chair at Congregation Beth Israel, evacuated to Memphis after Shabbat, but he has been in touch with his congregants and said, "Thank G-d thus far it sounds like our members who stayed home made it through OK, and the shul has minimal damage."

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Estimates state that about half the Jewish community evacuated from the city prior to the storm; a number that mirrors the overall number of evacuees. Both city officials and Jewish leaders expect those numbers to rise once people are allowed to travel, given the lack of power and limited cell phone service. A shelter in place order remains in effect.

"I think once people can get in their cars and know the estimate on the power loss, I think people will be anxious to move to a temporary site so they can have electricity, air conditioning and comfort," said Fielkow. "It's 90 degrees in New Orleans and it will get hotter in the coming days. It's a challenging situation to be in a home without power right now."

He said that The Jewish Federations of North America, the umbrella organization of the Jewish federation system, is expected to create a fundraising campaign for those affected by Ida in the coming days, but the community's needs are still to be determined.

"Once we fully assess the impact on the Jewish community, we will be able to have a better idea of the needs and how it relates to [our] meal programs, High Holidays, social services … and a whole variety of things," Fielkow said. "It will take us several days before all our partners and the federation can come to a decision on what that will look like."

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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