Headline
Tesla Cybertruck Experiences Explosion Outside Trump's Las Vegas Lodging; Authorities Discover Fireworks and Gas Containers within Vehicle
Authorities suggest gas tanks and "pyrotechnic tubes" were spotted in the bed of a Tesla Cybertruck that went up in flames outside the Trump Tower in Las Vegas early Wednesday, resulting in the demise of the vehicle's occupant, which police are allegedly looking into as a potential act of terror, less than 24 hours after an assault involving a vehicle in New Orleans.
Crucial Points
The explosion was reported in the valet area in front of the luxurious Trump International Hotel around 8:40 a.m. local time, causing the loss of life of one unnamed individual within the Cybertruck and causing minor injuries to seven other people, as stated by local law enforcement and emergency services.
The truck, which was rented in Colorado and transported to Las Vegas on the same day, appeared to contain gasoline and camping fuel canisters alongside "large pyrotechnic tubes," according to Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill in a press conference, referencing footage of the car.
McMahill expressed uncertainty as to how the truck was set alight.
Both CNN and ABC News reported that the incident was being examined as a potential terrorist act, with anonymous sources providing the information—though ABC noted that it remains uncertain whether the explosion was premeditated, with officials treating it as a potential terrorist act until further details are disclosed.
Jeremy Schwarz, the acting FBI agent-in-charge for Las Vegas, stated that investigators are continuing to establish whether this was an act of terrorism or not.
Donald Trump's son Eric, an executive vice president of the Trump Organization, confirmed via X that a vehicle had caught fire in front of the Las Vegas hotel, adding, "the safety and well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority."
Tesla CEO Elon Musk—a Trump ally—expressed that the company was conducting its own inquiry and mentioned, "We've never encountered anything like this before."
Did The Trump Tower Suffer Damage?
McMahill stated that damage to the hotel was minimal due to the Cybertruck's body directing the explosion upward. However, guests were evacuated from the Trump property following the explosion and transferred to Resorts World Las Vegas.
Who Was Driving The Cybertruck?
The identity of the deceased person isn't known. McMahill declined to disclose the name of the person who perished in the explosion, stating that the police are still working to affirm an identity. He confirmed that the police were aware of who rented the truck.
Is The Explosion Connected To The New Orleans Incident?
Police haven't suggested a link to the New Orleans incident—but McMahill mentioned that police are "absolutely investigating any potential connections" and are "not ruling anything out yet." The Cybertruck went up in flames less than 12 hours after a man rammed a Ford pickup truck into a crowd in New Orleans, resulting in the loss of life of at least 15 and injuries to numerous others. President Joe Biden stated late Wednesday that federal law enforcement was examining any potential connections, but as of now, there's no further information available. McMahill pointed out "we don't have any indication" of a direct connection to ISIS—unlike in New Orleans, where the FBI claimed it discovered an ISIS flag—but police are still investigating.
How Was The Cybertruck Rented?
The Tesla Cybertruck that exploded in Las Vegas and the Ford used in the New Orleans incident were both rented through Turo, an app that enables vehicle owners to rent out their cars or trucks, according to the Associated Press. McMahill mentioned that investigators are probing any possible connections.
The explosion involving the rented Tesla Cybertruck, which was filled with gasoline, camping fuel canisters, and large pyrotechnic tubes, has resulted in a business disruption at the Trump International Hotel. Investigators are currently conducting a thorough examination to determine if this incident is linked to the New Orleans incident where a Ford pickup truck was used in a similar manner.
