The chilling connection between the Las Vegas Cybertruck bomb and New Orleans terror attack has been revealed – they both used the same car sharing app Turo.
According to the app company, the trucks were rented on Turo after the owner of the Ford pickup truck used in the New Orleans attack said he recognised footage show the truck and licence plate on television.
The truck’s owner, who did not want to be named, said he had rented the truck to 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar who would use it to drive into crowds on Bourbon Street, killing at least 15 and injuring dozens more. According to the owner of the truck, he had been renting out five cars on Turo to earn more income but has said he won’t use the platform again following the deadly terrorist attack.
Meanwhile in Las Vegas, police confirmed the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside Donald Trump’s Hotel lobby entrance, killing one and injuring at least seven, was also rented from Turo. Police said it was a “coincidence” but were continuing to investigate if they are linked. Turo said in a statement that it was “actively partnering with law enforcement authorities as they investigate both incidents.”
“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,” the statement said. “We remain committed to maintaining the highest standards in risk management.”
The app, which was founded in 2009, lets car owners rent out their vehicles to people rather than using a traditional rental company. Customers can rent a specific car and model and organise a pickup and drop-off with the car owner – similiar to Airbnb.
According to a recent company filling, around 3.5million people have booked a car through Turo in the past year. Around 150,000 people have rented out their cars during that period and there were 350,000 active vehicle listings in more than 16 cities.
To book a car, you must be at least 18-years-old and have a Turo account which asks for your driver’s licence, expiration date, payment card and mobile phone number. “In most cases, you’ll get approved immediately,” Turo says on its website.
The company could ask for additional information to verify an account such as a customer’s credit history, or criminal background. It can decline or remove users from the platform. Turo operates in the US, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and France.
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