By Steven Symes 
After the Ford Lightning attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day, US federal law enforcement agencies are reportedly concerned similar terrorist activity could follow. In other words, everyone needs to stay vigilant since vehicles sadly can be effective and readily available tools of mass destruction and casualties.
Cars parked in Southern California are catching fire amidst chaos.
A bulletin published on January 3 by the FBI, Homeland Security, and the US National Counterterrorism Center expressed concern about “possible copycat or retaliatory attacks” using everyday vehicles in the US, reports Reuters. Those types of attacks happen in other parts of the world, so there’s precedence for such a thing.
The FBI has said Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a US Army veteran and native of Texas, was absolutely inspired by ISIS when he planned and carried out the deadly attack in New Orleans. Officials are concerned others will be inspired by his actions, carrying out copycat attacks of their own.
Jabbar drove a Ford F-150 Lightning around police cars blocking off Bourbon Street, speeding down the road, mowing down revelers who had little to no time to react to the attack. By the time he stopped the all-electric truck and engaged police in a firefight, he had killed 14 people and injured dozens of others.
Sadly, we suspect Jabbar selected an all-electric truck to carry out his attack because of its formidable weight. The pickup is at least 6,000 lbs. versus at least 4,000 lbs. for the non-electric F-150s.
The sheer weight of EVs, especially truck models, makes guarding against attacks using them more difficult. Almost a year ago, the University of Nebraska showed in a crash test using road barriers that a Rivian R1T could render them almost useless. The pickup ripped through safety railing like it was ribbon and hopped a concrete barrier after that.
Of course, the Rivian R1T is even heavier at over 7,000 lbs. so it’s like a battering ram on wheels in the hands of someone with bad intentions. While commercial trucks could also be used to carry out attacks, they don’t blend in as easily and gaining access is more difficult. After all, Jabbar just rented the Lightning he used from Turo.
Image via University of Nebraska-Lincoln/YouTube