ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - Jan. 1, 2025

>> Mary: TONIGHT, BREAKING NEWS. THE HORRIFIC START TO THE NEW. YEAR. AT LEAST 15 PEOPLE KILLED AND. DOZENS HURT WHEN A TRUCK PLOWS. INTO A CROWD CELEBRATING IN NEW. ORLEANS. AN ISIS FLAG FOUND AT THE SCENE. AND THE NEWS JUST COMING IN. WHY AUTHORITIES THINK THE. SUSPECT DIDN'T ACT ALONE. SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWING A. WHITE PICKUP TRUCK BEFORE IT. VEERED RIGHT INTO A CROWD OF. PEDESTRIANS, RACING DOWN BOURBON. STREET FOR AT LEAST THREE. BLOCKS. THE DRIVER FIRING AT OFFICERS. AND PEOPLE IN THE STREET WITH AN. ASSAULT-STYLE RIFLE BEFORE HE.

WAS STOPPED BY POLICE. HEAVILY ARMED OFFICERS RACING. THROUGH THE CITY'S FRENCH. QUARTER. A TERRIFYING SCENE OF CARNAGE. VICTIMS LYING IN THE STREET. AUTHORITIES FINDING VIABLE. EXPLOSIVES IN THE TRUCK AND. ELSEWHERE IN THE POPULAR TOURIST. AREA. THE FBI IDENTIFYING THE MAN THEY. SAY IS RESPONSIBLE. AN AMERICAN CITIZEN WHO LIVED IN. TEXAS, WHO HAD AN ISIS FLAG. INSIDE THE TRUCK HE WAS DRIVING. THEY SAY HE CLEARLY WANTED TO. HURT AS MANY PEOPLE AS HE COULD.

>> HE WAS HELL BENT ON CREATING. THE CARNAGE AND THE DAMAGE THAT. HE DID. >> THEY'RE NOW INVESTIGATING. WHETHER HE HAD ANY TIES TO THE. TERRORIST GROUP ISIS. WHY THE FBI IS SAYING HE DID NOT. ACT ALONE. WHAT WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT THE. TRUCK, A RENTAL DRIVEN TUESDAY. FROM THE HOUSTON AREA. AND QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BARRIERS. THAT MIGHT HAVE STOPPED HIM FROM. PLOWING DOWN BOURBON STREET. >>> THE CONCERNS FOR THE WIDER. THREAT AHEAD OF MAJOR COLLEGE. GAMES AND THE SUPER BOWL. THE SUGAR BOWL NOW POSTPONED. UNTIL TOMORROW.

SOME OTHER PUBLIC EVENTS. CANCELED. WE HAVE TEAM REPORTING FROM NEW. ORLEANS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. >>> DETAILS COMING IN OF THE. INVESTIGATION INTO A DEADLY. EXPLOSION AND FIRE AT THE TRUMP. INTERNATIONAL HOTEL IN LAS. VEGAS. A TESLA CYBER TRUCK ERUPTING IN. A FIREBALL. TONIGHT, AUTHORITIES TREATING IT. AS A POSSIBLE ACT OF TERRORISM. WHAT WE'VE JUST LEARNED. >>> THE DEADLY NEW YEAR'S EVE. TRAGEDY IN HONOLULU. AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE KILLED, DOZENS HURT. >>> MILLIONS BRACE FOR A MAJOR.

ARCTIC BLAST SWEEPING IN FROM. CANADA. BRINGING GUSTS UP TO 55 MILES. PER HOUR FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. TO BOSTON. OUR WEATHER TEAM STANDING BY TO. TIME IT ALL OUT. >> Mary: GOOD EVENING, AND THANK. YOU FOR STARTING THE NEW YEAR. WITH US. I'M MARY BRUCE IN FOR DAVID. WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH THE. HORRIFIC AND DEADLY ATTACK IN. NEW ORLEANS.

AT LEAST 15 KILLED AND DOZENS. MORE INJURED WHEN A DRIVER. RAMMED A RENTED PICKUP TRUCK. INTO A CROWD ON BOURBON STREET. AROUND 3:00 A.M., JUST HOURS. INTO THE NEW YEAR. THE FBI NOW INVESTIGATING IT AS. AN ACT OF TERRORISM. LAW ENFORCEMENT NOW REVIEWING. THIS SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWING. THE WHITE PICKUP TRUCK DRIVING. DOWN CANAL STREET BEFORE TURNING. RIGHT INTO BOURBON STREET. THE SUSPECT MOWING DOWN DOZENS. OF PEOPLE OVER A THREE-BLOCK. STRETCH, TURNING THE TYPICALLY. FESTIVE AND ICONIC BOURBON. STREET INTO A DEADLY SCENE OF. CARNAGE AND CHAOS.

DRAMATIC VIDEO CAPTURING THE. MOMENT POLICE EXCHANGE GUNFIRE. WITH THE SUSPECT. AUTHORITIES SAYING HE DIED IN. THAT EXCHANGE. TWO POLICE OFFICERS WERE ALSO. INJURED BUT ARE IN STABLE. CONDITION. AUTHORITIES RELEASING THIS IMAGE. OF THE 42-YEAR-OLD, SHAMSUD DIN. JABBAR, AN ARMY VETERAN AND. U.S.-BORN CITIZEN. POLICE NOW ASKING ANYONE WITH. INFORMATION TO COME FORWARD. TONIGHT, WHY THE FBI SAYS THE. SUSPECT DID NOT ACT ALONE. THE CHILLING ACCOUNTS FROM. EYEWITNESSES. AND WHAT WE ARE LEARNING ABOUT. THE VICTIMS.

AND PRESIDENT BIDEN SPEAKING. JUST MOMENTS AGO. ABC'S TREVOR AULT LEADS US OFF. IN NEW ORLEANS WITH THE NEW. DETAILS COMING IN TONIGHT. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, STATE, FEDERAL, AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES. SEARCHING FOR POSSIBLE. ACCOMPLICES AFTER A 42-YEAR-OLD. MAN FROM TEXAS FLYING AN ISIS. FLAG BARRELLED A RENTED FORD. F-150 PICKUP DOWN BOURBON. STREET, KILLING AT LEAST 15. PEOPLE AND INJURING DOZENS MORE. >> HE WAS HELL BENT ON CREATING. THE CARNAGE AND THE DAMAGE THAT.

HE DID. >> Reporter: LAW ENFORCEMENT. TRACKING THIS DISTURBING. SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWING THE. PICKUP COMING DOWN CANAL STREET. AROUND 3:15 THIS MORNING BEFORE. VEERING RIGHT INTO PEDESTRIANS. >> WE HAVE DOZENS OF PEOPLE THAT. GOT HIT BY THIS CAR. >> JUST HEARD THIS SQUEAL AND, LIKE, THE REV OF AN ENGINE, AND. THEN THIS HUGE, LOUD IMPACT AND. THEN THE PEOPLE SCREAMING. >> Reporter: THIS VIDEO SHOT. FROM A BOURBON STREET BALCONY. SHOWING BODIES LAYING IN THE. MIDDLE OF THE STREET. JIMMY COTHRAN WAS HIS GROUP'S.

DESIGNATED DRIVER. >> WE RAN UPSTAIRS AND WHEN WE. GOT ON THE BALCONY, WHAT -- WHAT. WE SAW WAS INSANITY. I MEAN, SOMETHING OUT OF A. MOVIE. THE GRAPHIC NATURE OF IT, AND IT. WAS UNBELIEVABLE. WE INSTANTLY COUNTED I'D SAY TEN. BODIES. >> Reporter: AUTHORITIES. IDENTIFYING THE SUSPECT AS. 42-YEAR-OLD SHAMSUD DIN JABBAR,

A U.S. CITIZEN, AN ARMY VETERAN. FROM TEXAS. THEY SAY HE WAS SPEEDING DOWN. BOURBON WEARING BODY ARMOR AND. FIRING AN AR-STYLE RIFLE OUT OF. THE TRUCK, RACING ABOUT THREE. BLOCKS BEFORE CRASHING, THEN. STEPPING OUT AND OPENING FIRE. AGAIN, WOUNDING TWO POLICE. OFFICERS. AUTHORITIES RETURNING FIRE, THE. SUSPECT DEAD AT THE SCENE. THIS IMAGE SHOWING HIS BODY. LAYING NEXT TO THAT TRUCK. AND INSIDE THAT FORD F-150, AUTHORITIES SAY THEY FOUND.

MULTIPLE HOMEMADE PIPE BOMBS. PACKED WITH NAILS. AND SOURCES TELL ABC NEWS, ON. THAT FLAG POLE WRAPPED IN THAT. GRAY JACKET IS A BLACK FLAG. BEARING THE ISIS INSIGNIA. POLICE SPENDING MUCH OF THE DAY. SCOURING DOWNTOWN NEW ORLEANS, DETONATING MULTIPLE POSSIBLE. IEDs IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. ATF AGENTS SWARMING THIS HOME. TWO MILES AWAY, BELIEVED TO BE. AN AIRBNB LINKED TO THE SUSPECT. >> WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT JABBAR. WAS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE. WE ARE AGGRESSIVELY RUNNING DOWN.

EVERY LEAD, INCLUDING THOSE OF. HIS KNOWN ASSOCIATES. THAT'S WHY WE NEED THE PUBLIC'S. HELP. WE ARE ASKING IF ANYBODY HAS ANY. INTERACTIONS WITH SHAMSUD DIN. JABBAR IN THE LAST 72 HOURS THAT. YOU CONTACT US. >> Reporter: THE ATTACK COMING. AS EVERY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. IN THE CITY WAS ON DUTY, WITH. THOUSANDS OF NEW YEAR'S REVELERS. AND FOOTBALL FANS IN TOWN FOR. THE SUGAR BOWL ALL PACKING THE. FRENCH QUARTER. IN THIS EARTH CAM VIDEO, NEARLY. A DOZEN OFFICERS SEEN ON BOURBON. STREET NOT FAR FROM THE ATTACK.

RACING TOWARD THE DANGER. THE FBI NOW LEADING THE. INVESTIGATION. AUTHORITIES LOOKING AT HOW THE. SUSPECT WAS ABLE TO GET DOWN. BOURBON STREET, WHICH IS USUALLY. BLOCKED OFF BY SECURITY. BARRIERS. BUT AFTER MULTIPLE MALFUNCTIONS, THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF. BEING REPLACED. THERE WERE VEHICLES BLOCKING. BOURBON STREET, BUT AS THAT. VIDEO SHOWS, THE SUSPECT WENT ON. THE SIDEWALK. >> WE HAD BARRIERS THERE, WE HAD. OFFICERS THERE, AND THEY STILL. GOT AROUND. SO, WE DID, INDEED, HAVE A PLAN,

BUT THE TERRORIST DEFEATED IT. >> Reporter: AND TONIGHT, THE. STORIES OF THE INNOCENT VICTIMS. ARE COMING INTO FOCUS. 18-YEAR-OLD NIKYRA DEDEAUX FROM. GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI. SHE WAS SET TO START NURSING. SCHOOL THIS MONTH. 37-YEAR-OLD REGGIE HUNTER, WHO. CAME TO NEW ORLEANS FROM BATON. ROUGE WITH A COUSIN ON A WHIM. >> AND JUST LIVING YOUR LIFE, TRYING TO HAVE FUN, AND FOR THIS. TO HAPPEN TO YOU IS SO -- IT'S. SENSELESS. >> Reporter: AND 27-YEAR-OLD. NICOLE PEREZ. HER EMPLOYER SAYS SHE WAS A. GREAT MOM. >> SHE WAS BEING A MOTHER AND A.

FATHER AND SHE WAS DOING A. REALLY GOOD JOB. >> Mary: WE ARE THINKING OF THE. VICTIMS' FAMILIES TONIGHT. TREVOR AULT NOW WITH US FROM NEW. ORLEANS. TREVOR, THE FBI TONIGHT BELIEVES. THE SUSPECT DID NOT ACT ALONE. >> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT, MARY. AND AND ONE INDICATION TO. AUTHORITIES THAT THIS SUSPECT. DID HAVE SOME HELP WITH THE. POTENTIAL IEDs IN THE OTHER. PARTS OF THE CITY. AND THE FBI IS URGING ANYONE. WHO'S HAD CONTACT WITH THE. SUSPECT TO CONTACT AUTHORITIES. IMMEDIATELY.

MARY? >> Mary: TREVOR, THANK YOU. AND WE ARE JOINED NOW BY OUR. SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE. CORRESPONDENT AARON KATERSKY. SO, AARON, WHAT ARE YOUR SOURCES. ZEROING IN ON TONIGHT? >> Reporter: IT'S A FAST-MOVING. INVESTIGATION, MARY, AND IT'S. ALREADY TAKEN THE FBI BEYOND NEW. ORLEANS. IN HOUSTON, A HOME IS BEING. SEARCHED RIGHT NOW. AUTHORITIES ARE TELLING PEOPLE. TO STAY AWAY FROM IT. AND THE REAL FOCUS, OF COURSE, IS ON THE SUSPECT. JABBAR IS NOT THE FIRST MEMBER. OF THE U.S. MILITARY TO BECOME. RADICALIZED. TONIGHT, WE'RE TOLD THE. AUTHORITIES BELIEVE HIS.

RADICALIZATION OCCURRED ONLINE. AND WITHIN THE LAST SEVERAL. YEARS. THEY ARE STUDYING VIDEOS HE. APPARENTLY MADE DRIVING FROM. TEXAS TO LOUISIANA. THEY'RE DARK, SO, YOU CAN'T SEE. HIM, BUT ON THOSE VIDEOS, SOURCES TELL US HE TALKS ABOUT. DIVORCE, HE TALKS ABOUT WANTING. TO KILL HIS FAMILY, BEFORE. ULTIMATELY DECIDING TO CARRY OUT. HIS ATTACK IN NEW ORLEANS IN THE. NAME OF ISIS. MARY? >> Mary: OKAY, AARON, THANK YOU. >>> AUTHORITIES ARE DESCRIBING. THE SUSPECT AS HELL BENT ON. CARNAGE. TONIGHT, THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE. MOTIVATION BEHIND THE ATTACK. POLICE LOOKING INTO THE MILITARY.

VETERAN'S BACKGROUND AND. POSSIBLE TIES TO TERRORIST. ORGANIZATIONS. HERE'S ABC'S CHIEF JUSTICE. CORRESPONDENT PIERRE THOMAS. >> Reporter: THIS MAN IN THIS. YOUTUBE VIDEO TALKING ABOUT REAL. ESTATE --. >> I'M BORN AND RAISED IN. BEAUMONT, TEXAS, AND NOW LIVE IN. HOUSTON. >> Reporter: -- IS BELIEVED TO. BE THE SUSPECT SEEN HERE LYING. ON THE GROUND. AFTER A VIOLENT ENCOUNTER WITH. POLICE. DESCRIBED AS A COLD-BLOODED. TERRORIST WHO METHODICALLY. PREPARED FOR HIS ATTACK. THE FBI NOW LAUNCHING A MASSIVE. INVESTIGATION INTO THE. BACKGROUND OF SHAMSUD DIN.

JABBAR, A 42-YEAR-OLD MILITARY. VETERAN. HE SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN OVER A. DECADE AGO, FROM FEBRUARY 2009. TO JANUARY 2010. TONIGHT, THE TOP PRIORITIES OF. THE INVESTIGATION, WHAT EXACTLY. ARE HIS TIES TO ISIS BEYOND THAT. FLAG THAT AUTHORITIES RECOVERED. FROM HIS VEHICLE USED AS A. BATTERING RAM? >> AN ISIS FLAG WAS LOCATED ON. THE TRAILER HITCH OF THE VEHICLE. AND THE FBI IS WORKING TO. DETERMINE THE SUBJECT'S. POTENTIAL ASSOCIATIONS AND. AFFILIATIONS WITH TERRORIST. ORGANIZATIONS.

>> Reporter: AND OFFICIALS. OPENLY EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERN. THAT JABBAR HAD HELP. INVESTIGATORS ARE ALSO FOCUSING. ON THE ASSAULT-STYLE RIFLE AND. HANDGUN RECOVERED FROM THE. SCENE, AND MULTIPLE IEDs FOUND. IN THE VEHICLE AND OTHER PLACES. IN THE FRENCH QUARTER. ATF TRACKING THE PURCHASE OF THE. FIREARMS. AND AUTHORITIES PLAN TO DISSECT. EACH ONE OF THE IEDs TO. DETERMINE WHERE THE COMPONENTS. WERE BOUGHT. INVESTIGATORS ALSO LOOKING INTO. THE FORD TRUCK, WHICH SOURCES. SAY WAS RENTED THROUGH A. CAR-SHARING COMPANY AND SPOTTED.

MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE HOUSTON. AREA YESTERDAY. IT WAS LAST SEEN IN BAY TOWN, TEXAS, ON I-10, HEADING EAST. MARY, EVERY FEDERAL INTELLIGENCE. AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IS. WORKING TONIGHT TO COME UP WITH. A PROFILE OF THE SUSPECT. AND TO DETERMINE, WHO ARE HIS. ASSOCIATES AND IF HE HAD ANY. HELP. MARY? >> Mary: STILL SO MANY. QUESTIONS. PIERRE, THANK YOU. >>> THE SUGAR BOWL GAME BETWEEN. NOTRE DAME AND GEORGIA NOW. DELAYED UNTIL TOMORROW, A RARE. AND EXTRAORDINARY STEP FOR A. MAJOR SPORTING EVENT. AUTHORITIES SAY THE POSTPONEMENT.

WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF. PUBLIC SAFETY, AND NOT BECAUSE. OF ANY SPECIFIC SECURITY THREAT. ABC'S CHRISTIANE CORDERO IS. OUTSIDE THE SUPERDOME IN NEW. ORLEANS TONIGHT. CHRISTIANE? >> Reporter: MARY, OFFICIALS. ANNOUNCED THEIR DECISION TO. POSTPONE TONIGHT'S GAME HERE AT. THE SUPERDOME JUST HOURS BEFORE. LAW ENFORCEMENT, ESPN, AND THE. UNIVERSITIES ALL AGREED. POSTPONING THE GAME WAS THE. APPROPRIATE COURSE OF ACTION, ADDING, THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC. SECURITY THREAT AT THE STADIUM. THE GAME WILL NOW TAKE PLACE.

TOMORROW, 4:00 P.M. EASTERN. WE'VE SEEN POLICE HERE TODAY. USING DRONES FOR SURVEILLANCE. AUTHORITIES SAY THEY'VE DEPLOYED. BOMB-SNIFFING DOGS AROUND THE. STADIUM AND ARE LOCKING DOWN THE. SURROUNDING AREA THROUGH THE. GAME TOMORROW NIGHT. GEORGIA, ONE OF THE SCHOOLS. PLAYING IN THE GAME, ISSUING A. STATEMENT TODAY THAT ONE OF ITS. STUDENTS WAS CRITICALLY INJURED. IN THE RAMMING ATTACK AND IS. RECEIVING MEDICAL TREATMENT. AND MARY, TONIGHT AUTHORITIES. ARE PROMISING TO MAKE ADDRESSING. ANY SECURITY DEFICIENCIES A TOP. PRIORITY AHEAD OF THE SUPER. BOWL, WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE. PLACE RIGHT HERE AT THE. SUPERDOME IN JUST OVER A MONTH. MARY?

>> Mary: THAT SECURITY PROTOCOL. GETTING ANOTHER LOOK. CHRISTIANE, THANK YOU. >>> BOTH PRESIDENT BIDEN AND. PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP ARE. RESPONDING TO THE DEADLY. ATTACKS, SO, LET'S BRING IN. ELIZABETH SCHULZE AT THE WHITE. HOUSE, AND ELIZABETH, PRESIDENT. BIDEN SPEAKING JUST MOMENTS AGO. ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION. >> Reporter: YES, MARY. PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYS HE WAS. NOTIFIED BY THE FBI THAT THE. SUSPECT DID POST ONLINE HOURS. BEFORE THE ATTACK, INDICATING HE. WAS INSPIRED BY ISIS. PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYING THE. SITUATION TONIGHT IS FLUID, BUT. VOWING ALL FEDERAL SUPPORT.

>> I'VE DIRECTED MY TEAM TO MAKE. SURE EVERY RESOURCE, EVERY. RESOURCE IS MADE AVAILABLE TO. FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAW. ENFORCEMENT TO COMPLETE THE. INVESTIGATION IN NEW ORLEANS. QUICKLY, AND TO MAKE SURE. THERE'S NO REMAINING THREAT TO. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. >> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT SAYS. THAT THE NATION WILL STAND WITH. THE PEOPLE OF NEW ORLEANS AS. THEY MOURN AND HEAL IN THE WEEKS. AHEAD. PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP ALSO. WEIGHING IN TONIGHT, WRITING IN. A POST, OUR HEARTS ARE WITH ALL. THE INNOCENT VICTIMS AND THEIR. LOVED ONES. CALLING THIS AN ACT OF PURE. EVIL.

MARY? >> Mary: ELIZABETH, THANK YOU. >>> ALSO DEVELOPING TONIGHT, A. TESLA CYBER TRUCK EXPLODING. OUTSIDE THE TRUMP HOTEL IN LAS. VEGAS. POLICE TONIGHT TREATING THE. BLAST AS A POSSIBLE ACT OF. TERRORISM. AN OFFICIAL TELLING ABC NEWS THE. TRUCK WAS PACKED WITH. FIREWORKS-STYLE MORTARS. THE DRIVER KILLED. SEVEN OTHERS WERE INJURED, AND. LATE TODAY, TESLA CEO ELON MUSK. WEIGHING IN. HERE'S ABC'S MOLA LENGHI. >> Reporter: THIS IS THE MOMENT. A TESLA CYBER TRUCK EXPLODED. INTO A FIRE BALL RIGHT OUTSIDE.

THE ENTRANCE TO THE TRUMP. INTERNATIONAL HOTEL IN LAS. VEGAS. >> THIS IS GOING TO BE A CYBER. TRUCK. >> WE HAVE A TOTAL OF EIGHT. VICTIMS. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, AUTHORITIES REVIEWING THESE. VIDEOS AS PART OF THEIR. INVESTIGATION, TREATING THIS AS. A POSSIBLE ACT OF TERRORISM, AMONG OTHER POSSIBILITIES, ACCORDING TO AN OFFICIAL. BRIEFED. THAT CYBER TRUCK WAS LOADED WITH. FIREWORKS-STYLE MORTARS ONBOARD, AS WELL AS A GAS CAN AND FUEL. MULTIPLE SECONDARY EXPLOSIONS. COULD BE SEEN AFTER THE INITIAL. BLAST. SENDING DEBRIS FLYING. AUTHORITIES SAY THE 2024 CYBER.

TRUCK ARRIVED AT THE HOTEL. AROUND 8:40 A.M. LOCAL TIME. PARKED, THEN BURST INTO FLAMES. >> IT PULLED RIGHT UP TO THE. GLASS ENTRANCE DOORS OF THE. HOTEL. WE SAW THAT SMOKE START SHOWING. FROM THE VEHICLE, AND THEN A. LARGE EXPLOSION FROM THE TRUCK. OCCURS. THERE IS ONE DECEASED INDIVIDUAL. IN THE CYBER TRUCK. >> Reporter: AT LEAST SEVEN. OTHER PEOPLE WERE HURT. >> I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU THAT. FIRST VIDEO. THE FACT THAT THIS WAS A CYBER. TRUCK REALLY LIMITED THE DAMAGE.

THAT OCCURRED INSIDE OF THE. VALET, BECAUSE IT HAD MOST OF. THE BLAST GO UP THROUGH THE. TRUCK AND OUT. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, TESLA CEO. ELON MUSK POSTING ON X, SAYING, "THE EXPLOSION WAS CAUSED BY. VERY LARGE FIREWORKS AND/OR A. BOMB CARRIED IN THE BED OF THE. RENTED CYBER TRUCK AND IS. UNRELATED TO THE VEHICLE. ITSELF.". THE BLAST COMING JUST HOURS. AFTER THE DEADLY TERROR ATTACK. IN NEW ORLEANS, AND RAISING. FURTHER SUSPICIONS, GIVEN ELON. MUSK'S CLOSE TIES TO. PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP.

AND MARY, A MOTIVE HAS YET TO BE. DETERMINED. TONIGHT, WE'RE ALSO LEARNING. THAT THE CYBER TRUCK WAS RENTED. USING THE TURO APP, THAT'S THE. SAME APP THAT WAS USED TO RENT. THE TRUCK IN THE NEW ORLEANS. ATTACK. MARY? >> Mary: YET ANOTHER THING. AUTHORITIES ARE LOOKING AT. MOLA, THANK YOU. >>> AND NOW, TO A DEADLY. FIREWORKS EXPLOSION OUTSIDE A. HOME IN THE HONOLULU AREA. THREE PEOPLE KILLED AND DOZENS. MORE INJURED DURING A NEW YEAR'S. EVE CELEBRATION. FIRST RESPONDERS RACING TO THE. SCENE. THE INJURED RUSHED TO LOCAL. HOSPITALS, MANY IN CRITICAL. CONDITION. WHAT WE'RE LEARNING TONIGHT.

ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION. HERE'S ABC'S STEPHANIE RAMOS. >> HAPPY NEW YEAR! >> Reporter: IT STARTED AS A. JOYOUS NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATION IN. HONOLULU, BUT A FEW BLOCKS FROM. THE CROWD GATHERED ON THIS. BALCONY NEAR PEARL HARBOR --. >> FIVE, FOUR, THREE --. >> Reporter: -- THE CELEBRATION. AT ONE HOME TURNED DEADLY. YOU CAN SEE AND HEAR A WAVE OF. VIOLENT EXPLOSIONS IN THE. DISTANCE. OFFICIALS SAY AT LEAST THREE. PEOPLE WERE KILLED AT THE SCENE, DOZENS OF PEOPLE INJURED, MOST.

IN CRITICAL CONDITION WITH BURN. AND BLAST WOUNDS. OFFICIALS SAY THE MASSIVE. EXPLOSIONS WERE CAUSED BY. ILLEGAL FIREWORKS. MARY, THE GOVERNOR CALLED IT A. PAINFUL REMINDER OF THE DANGER. POSED BY ILLEGAL FIREWORKS. OFFICIALS SAY FOR SOME OF THE. FIRST RESPONDERS WHO HAVE BEEN. TO WAR, THE WOUNDS REMINDED THEM. OF SOME OF THE THINGS THEY'D. SEEN IN COMBAT. MARY? >> Mary: JUST AWFUL. STEPHANIE, THANK YOU. >>> AND WE DO HAVE MUCH MORE. NEWS HERE AHEAD. WE'RE TRACKING THE POWERFUL. ARCTIC BLAST, AND THE HIGH WIND. WARNINGS FOR THE EAST.

>> Mary: NEXT TONIGHT, MILLIONS. IN THE EASTERN HALF OF THE. COUNTRY ARE BRACING FOR A. POWERFUL ARCTIC BLAST THAT'S. SWEEPING IN FROM CANADA. OVERNIGHT, NATURE PUTTING ON ITS. OWN SHOW IN THE NEW YORK AREA. THE CITY SKYLINE LIT UP BY. BURSTS OF LIGHTNING AND THUNDER. AS POWERFUL STORMS SWEPT THROUGH. RIGHT BEFORE MIDNIGHT. LET'S BRING IN METEOROLOGIST. JEFF SMITH FROM OUR NEW YORK. STATION WABC. >> Reporter: AND MARY, THAT COLD. AIR BEING USHERED IN ON A VERY. STRONG NORTHWESTERLY WIND. I CAN FEEL IT HERE IN NEW YORK. CITY. WIND ALERTS UP FOR THE I-95. CORRIDOR. RIGHT THROUGH THE DAY TOMORROW.

SOME OF THE STRONGER WINDS NEAR. WASHINGTON, D.C., WILL BE MOVING. UP INTO PHILADELPHIA, NEW YORK. CITY, AND BOSTON. MAYBE GUSTING UP TO 55 MILES PER. HOUR. THAT IN COMBINATION WITH THE. COLD WILL SEND WIND CHILLS WELL. BELOW ZERO IN PLACES LIKE. MINNEAPOLIS AND CHICAGO, EVEN, BY SATURDAY MORNING. WASHINGTON, D.C. FEELING LIKE 13. BY SUNDAY MORNING. AN EVEN MORE EXTREME PIECE OF. COLD AIR WITH A PIECE OF THE. POLAR VORTEX WILL MOVE INTO THE. CENTRAL PART OF THE COUNTRY BY. THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. AND THE COLD AIR BLOWING OVER. THE WARMER WATERS OF THE GREAT. LAKES COULD BE DEPOSITING FEET. OF SNOW.

EAST OF LAKES ERIE AND ONTARIO. MARY? >> Mary: A COLD AND SNOWY START. TO THE YEAR FOR SO MANY. JEFF, THANK YOU. >>> AND WHEN WE COME BACK HERE, THE NEW ATTACKS ON THE NEW YORK. CITY SUBWAY. >> Mary: TO THE INDEX NOW. AUTHORITIES HERE IN NEW YORK ARE. INVESTIGATING A SERIES OF SUBWAY. ATTACKS IN THE PAST 48 HOURS. A SUSPECT HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH. PUSHING A MAN INTO THE PATH OF. AN INCOMING TRAIN. THE VICTIM WAS PULLED FROM. BETWEEN THE SUBWAY CARS. HE'S NOW IN STABLE CONDITION. AND TODAY, TWO MEN WERE STABBED. IN SEPARATE ATTACKS.

>>> AND PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP. SAYS HE WILL ATTEND FORMER. PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER'S FUNERAL. NEXT WEEK IN WASHINGTON, D.C. TRUMP, WHO HAD BEEN CRITICAL OF. CARTER ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, SAID ON SUNDAY AFTER CARTER'S. DEATH THAT THE NATION OWED THE. 39th PRESIDENT A DEBT OF. GRATITUDE, SAYING HE WORKED HARD. TO MAKE AMERICA A BETTER PLACE. >>> AND WHEN WE COME BACK, THE. LATEST FROM NEW ORLEANS. >> Mary: BEFORE WE GO, WE WANT. TO RETURN TO NEW ORLEANS AND. ABC'S TREVOR AULT STANDING BY. FROM THE FRENCH QUARTER. AND TREVOR, YOU'RE NOW LEARNING. MORE ABOUT THE SUSPECT?

>> Reporter: YES, MARY. SO, ONE SENIOR U.S. OFFICIAL. TELLS ABC NEWS THEY BELIEVE THIS. SUSPECT WAS POSSIBLY RADICALIZED. WITHIN JUST THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND WAS POSSIBLY FURTHER. RADICALIZED BY THE GAZA WAR. NOW, HERE IN NEW ORLEANS, AS YOU. MIGHT IMAGINE, THIS IS A MASSIVE. CRIME SCENE, AND IT IS A VERY. ACTIVE ONE STILL AT THAT. THAT IS BOURBON STREET JUST DOWN. THE BLOCK THERE, THAT IS THE. ICONIC BOURBON STREET WHERE THE. ATTACK OCCURRED. WE'RE SEEING FBI INVESTIGATORS. COMING IN AND OUT.

THE CORONER'S VAN RIGHT THERE, THE FLOOD LIGHTS TO CONTINUE. WORKING THROUGH THE NIGHT. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST LIVELY. AREAS FOR TOURISTS IN THE ENTIRE. COUNTRY. THERE ARE STILL TENS OF. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE. FRENCH QUARTER, AND SECURITY. REMAINS VERY TIGHT AND VERY. TENSE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE FACT. THIS SUSPECT LIKELY DID NOT ACT. ALONE AND THERE COULD VERY WELL. BE COCONSPIRATORS STILL ON THE. RUN TONIGHT, MARY. >> Mary: TREVOR AULT TRACKING IT. ALL FROM NEW ORLEANS TONIGHT, THANK YOU. STAY WITH ABC NEWS FOR. CONTINUOUS UPDATES FROM NEW. ORLEANS ON ABC NEWS LIVE,

ABCNEWS.COM, AND THE LATEST ON. "GMA" IN THE MORNING. I'M MARY BRUCE. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.