Police are investigating an explosion involving a Tesla Cybertruck filled with fuel canisters and firework mortars that occurred outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada in the United States.
The blast resulted in the death of the driver and left seven others with minor injuries, according to police. The individuals involved have not been named.
The truck, which was rented in Colorado, arrived in Las Vegas on Wednesday morning, just hours before the explosion, which took place in front of the hotel near its glass entrance. The vehicle began emitting smoke before detonating.
President Joe Biden addressed the situation in the evening, stating that the White House was monitoring the incident and that law enforcement was investigating any potential link to the attack in New Orleans, which left 15 dead early on New Year’s Day.
Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Police Department shared shocking footage of the explosion, showing several fuel canisters and large fireworks scattered in the truck’s bed.
In one video, the truck was parked right in front of the hotel entrance before it exploded, with multi-colored fireworks bursting in various directions.
Another video showed investigators covering the area with a fire-retardant tarp as they dealt with the aftermath.
The incident occurred around 8:40 PT (15:40 GMT), just hours after a separate attack in New Orleans where a man drove a truck bearing an Islamic State group flag into a crowd, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens.
McMahill mentioned that authorities were exploring whether the Las Vegas explosion could be related to the New Orleans attack, where improvised explosive devices had been discovered.
Investigators were also looking into possible connections to President-elect Donald Trump, the hotel’s owner, or Tesla’s owner, Elon Musk.
“We have a lot of questions that need answering as we move forward,” McMahill said.
The FBI has also launched an investigation to determine whether this incident might be an act of terrorism.
However, authorities clarified that the driver’s identity has yet to be confirmed, and no evidence links the explosion to IS.
“Our goal is to find out if this is a terrorist attack, and that’s what we’re working on,” said FBI special agent Jeremy Schwartz.
Both vehicles involved in the explosions were rented through Turo, an app-based car rental service.
A Turo spokesperson stated that the company was cooperating with authorities in both Las Vegas and New Orleans and emphasized that both renters had no criminal history that would indicate they posed a security threat.
The spokesperson also expressed condolences for the victims of both the Las Vegas and New Orleans incidents, “We are heartbroken by the violence, and our prayers are with the victims and their families.”
Although authorities know the name of the person who rented the vehicle, they have not yet confirmed whether it was the same individual behind the wheel.
Sheriff McMahill reassured the public that there was no ongoing threat to the Las Vegas community, and the hotel was evacuated as a precaution. Guests were relocated to different accommodations.
In response to the incident, Eric Trump, son of President-elect Donald Trump, acknowledged the event in a post on X, stating, “A reported electric vehicle fire occurred in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas,” and thanked the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their swift action.
Stephen Ferlando, a witness who was staying in a hotel room on the 53rd floor, described the explosion as powerful, noting that the windows of the building shook.
The Trump Hotel, which spans 64 floors, houses around 1,300 suites.
Following the explosion, Trump appointed Musk to co-lead a new advisory commission on government efficiency, following their close relationship during Trump’s presidential campaign.
