A Tesla Cybertruck exploded in front of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, killing one person and injuring seven others. Authorities discovered that the truck contained gasoline and camp fuel containers, as well as large firework mortars. Investigators were able to trace the truck through Tesla charging stations and ultimately identified the person who rented it. The vehicle was caught on license plate readers traveling along Las Vegas Boulevard before pulling into the hotel valet area, where it exploded within seconds of arrival. Even though the explosion did not damage the hotel’s glass doors, minor injuries were sustained by seven individuals.
During a press conference, Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill showcased a video of the truck bed filled with explosive materials, emphasizing how the truck’s design limited the damage caused by the blast. The exterior of the truck stayed intact after the explosion, directing most of the blast upward. The FBI acting special agent in charge in Las Vegas, Jeremy Schwartz, did not disclose the identity of the person inside the vehicle and stated that the primary goal was to properly identify the subject involved. A joint terrorism task force is investigating whether the explosion was an act of terrorism. Officials reiterated that the community is safe and there is no evidence of ongoing threats.
The Cybertruck explosion incident in Las Vegas followed a similar deadly act in New Orleans by Shamsud Din Jabbar, who drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, killing over a dozen people. The truck used in the New Orleans attack was also rented through the peer-to-peer car rental company Turo and had an ISIS flag attached. Turo assured that neither of the renters in Las Vegas nor New Orleans had criminal backgrounds suggesting they were security threats. FBI believes the Las Vegas explosion was an isolated incident, and there is no immediate danger to the community based on current information.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk provided information about the locked status of the vehicle post-explosion due to the force from the blast. He also assisted in obtaining surveillance footage from Tesla charging stations nationwide. Musk confirmed that the explosion was caused by large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the rented Cybertruck’s bed, clarifying that it was unrelated to the vehicle itself. President Biden acknowledged both the Las Vegas and New Orleans incidents, stating that law enforcement and intelligence agencies were investigating any potential connections between the two events. While no concrete ties have been established thus far, investigations into both incidents are ongoing to ensure the safety and security of the public.
