While the eyes of the world are on a terror attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, authorities in Las Vegas are investigating an explosion that involved a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump Las Vegas hotel on Wednesday. The incident is being probed as a possible terror attack.
Surveillance cameras outside of the hotel caught the shocking moment when the electric truck turned into a fireball outside the revolving doors in the valet area. The footage can be seen here, but viewer discretion is advised.
The explosion occurred at around 8:40 a.m. local time, sending the glass, metal, and other debris from the Cybertruck flying.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Sheriff Kevin McMahill held a press conference on Wednesday, updating the public on the situation. Officials say at least seven bystanders were left with minor injuries, and the driver of the Cybertruck was killed.
“A 2024 Cybertruck pulled up to the front of the hotel, and in fact, I can tell you, it pulled right up to the glass entrance doors of the hotel. We saw that smoke start showing from the vehicle, and then a large explosion from the truck,” McMahill told reporters.
PresidentJoe Biden shared that authorities are looking into a potential connection with the New Orleans attack on New Year’s Eve, but at this time, they are calling it an “isolated incident.” However, McMahill also suggested political motives.
“It’s a Tesla truck, and we know that Elon Musk is working with President-elect Trump, and it’s the Trump tower,” McMahill said. “So, there’s obviously things to be concerned about there, and that’s something we continue to look at.”
CNN reported that investigators think the driver had a background in military service, though an official identification has yet to occur. The driver’s identity has yet to be confirmed because officials don’t have “100% certainty of who the individual is.”
It has been confirmed that the driver did not own the truck but rented it through the Turo app, the same one used in the New Orleans attack, The New York Post reported.
“That’s another coincidence that absolutely … we have to continue to look into,” McMahill said.
The Cybertruck was also found to have been filled with fireworks-style mortars. Officials are working to determine whether or not they were set off deliberately or by accident. Video and photos of the inside of the vehicle were reported on by multiple media outlets.
Tesla CEO Musk has confirmed that the explosion was “unrelated to the vehicle itself” and that “all vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion.”
“Cybertruck is the worst possible choice for a car bomb, as its stainless steel armor will contain the blast better than any other commercial vehicle,” Musk wrote on X.
Trump Las Vegas hotel thanked law enforcement for their response to the incident in a statement on Wednesday.
“Earlier today, a reported electric vehicle fire occurred in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas. The safety & well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority,” the hotel said in a statement.
At this time, the investigation remains ongoing.