A Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday, killing the driver and injuring seven others. Witnesses captured the explosion and flames engulfing the vehicle, which was parked outside the hotel. Authorities are investigating the incident, with the FBI looking into whether it could be linked to terrorism.
The explosion occurred just hours after a deadly truck attack in New Orleans, where a driver deliberately ran over New Year’s Day revelers, killing 15. The Las Vegas hotel is part of the Trump Organization, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, also expressed his concerns.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sheriff Kevin McMahill commented that the explosion raised many questions. FBI Special Agent Jeremy Schwartz emphasized that it was unclear whether the explosion was a terrorist act, and investigators were still gathering information.
Musk later clarified that the explosion was not related to the Cybertruck’s design but was caused by large fireworks or a bomb placed in the truck’s bed. He also confirmed that all vehicle data was normal at the time of the explosion.
The FBI identified the driver, whose rented Cybertruck came from Colorado. The car was rented via Turo, the same car-sharing service that rented the vehicle used in the New Orleans attack. Turo stated that neither renter had a criminal background that would have flagged them as security risks.
The explosion occurred at 8:40 am local time. In response, the Trump Hotel was evacuated, and most visitors were relocated. The Las Vegas firefighters extinguished the fire just four minutes after it was reported. Two of the injured individuals were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Eric Trump, the president-elect’s son, confirmed the event on social media, calling it an electric vehicle fire near the hotel entrance.
