Law enforcement is investigating if the Tesla Cybertruck explosion right outside the Trump Las Vegas hotel on New Year’s Day was a possible terror attack.
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According to the Las Vegas Police Department, the shocking incident occurred at approximately 8:40 a.m. local time. The vehicle exploded while parked in front of the hotel, sending debris flying.
Law enforcement officials revealed that the driver had just pulled up into the valet area of the hotel when the car exploded. They were killed, while seven others suffered minor injuries.
Before the explosion, the Las Vegas Police Department stated that the Tesla Cybertruck arrived in the city around 7:30 a.m. It had driven up and down Las Vegas Boulevard for about an hour. The vehicle’s bed contained gasoline tanks, camping fuel, and large firework mortars.
The vehicle was rented in Colorado through the car rental app Turo and tracked through Tesla charging stations.
“The LVMPD is maintaining increased officer presence across the community,” law enforcement officials stated. “INcluding the Las Vegas Strip. There is no known current threat to public safety.”
Officials also stated that no suspect information will be released until confirmed.
“This is a joint investigation with federal, state, and local authorities. Investigators are working to identify the suspect and determine if this was an act of terrorism.”
Meanwhile, many social media users suspect that the incident in Las Vegas is connected to the New Orleans truck attack that occurred just hours earlier. The number of people who were killed has increased from 10 to 15. More than 30 others were injured.
The New Orleans suspect has been identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran from Texas. He died amid a shootout with police.
Las Vegas Law Enforcement Officials Credit Tesla’s Elon Musk For Assting in the Cybertruck Explosion Investigation
In an evening briefing on Wednesday, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill credited Tesla’s Elon Musk with helping with the Cybertruck explosion investigation.
“I have to thank Elon Musk specifically. He gave us quite a bit of additional information in regards to how the vehicle was locked after it exploded,” McMahill stated. “Due to… the nature of the force from the explosion. “[They were] able to capture all of the video from Tesla charging stations across the country. [Musk] sent that truck directly to us, so I appreciate his help on that.”
Although Musk has formed a bond with President-elect Donald Trump since the 2024 Presidential Election, McMahill stated that it remains unclear what caused the explosion.
“It’s a Tesla truck, and we know that Elon Musk is working with President-elect Trump, and it’s the Trump Tower,” McMahill continued. “So there’s obviously things to be concerned about there, and that’s something we continue to look at.”
Musk has spoken out about the explosion by stating that Cybertruck is the “worst possible choice” for a car bomb.
“Its stainless steel armor will contain the blast better than any other commercial vehicle,” he pointed out.