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Tesla Cybertruck Explosion Rocks Trump Hotel in Las Vegas
- Tesla Cybertruck loaded with fuel and fireworks explodes outside Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, killing the driver and injuring seven.
- Authorities investigate possible links to New Orleans IS attack and high-profile targets, including Trump and Musk.
- FBI probes the incident as a potential act of terrorism; no evidence of IS involvement confirmed yet.
Police are investigating after a Tesla Cybertruck loaded with fuel canisters and firework mortars exploded outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the explosion, which occurred at 8:40 a.m. PT (15:40 GMT), killed the driver and left seven others with minor injuries, according to law enforcement. The identities of those involved have not been disclosed.
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Authorities revealed that the vehicle, rented in Colorado, arrived in Las Vegas just two hours before the explosion. Surveillance footage shows the truck parked in front of the hotel near a glass entrance before it began to emit smoke and then detonated, releasing bursts of multicoloured fireworks in all directions.
In an evening address, President Joe Biden said the White House was closely monitoring the incident and investigating “any possible connection with the attack in New Orleans,” which killed 15 people and injured dozens earlier the same day.
During a press conference, Sheriff Kevin McMahill presented dramatic footage of the explosion and images of the aftermath. Photos showed scorched gas and fuel canisters, alongside remnants of over a dozen firework mortars in the truck bed. Investigators used fire-retardant tarps to extinguish the blaze, leaving behind the charred remains of the vehicle.
The Las Vegas incident occurred hours after a separate attack in New Orleans, where a truck adorned with an Islamic State (IS) flag was driven into a crowd, followed by the discovery of improvised explosive devices. Sheriff McMahill said authorities were exploring possible connections between the two incidents.
“Given the location—a Cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel—there are many questions we need to answer,” McMahill said, noting investigators were also considering potential links to President-Elect Donald Trump or Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
The FBI confirmed it is probing the incident as a potential act of terrorism but has not yet identified the driver or found evidence linking the explosion to IS.
“I know everybody’s interested in that word, and trying to see if we can say, ‘Hey, this is a terrorist attack.’ That is our goal, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” FBI special agent in charge Jeremy Schwartz told reporters at a news conference.
The sheriff noted that both vehicles appeared to be rented from Turo, an app-based car rental company.
A Turo spokesperson said in a statement that the company was working with authorities in Las Vegas and New Orleans to help with the investigation. The spokesperson noted both renters appeared to not have a criminal background that would have “identified them as a security threat”.
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“We are heartbroken by the violence perpetrated in New Orleans and Las Vegas, and our prayers are with the victims and families,” the statement reads.
The authorities say they do have the name of the person who rented the vehicle but have not officially confirmed it was the person driving the vehicle.
“As you can imagine, with an explosion here on an iconic Las Vegas Boulevard, we are taking all of the precautions that we need to take to keep our community safe,” he said during a news conference.
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