Tesla Cybertruck Explosion at Trump Hotel in Las Vegas: Act of Terror
Given its ties to President-elect Donald Trump, the hotel has faced security concerns in the past, including threats.
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| 1 dead, 7 injured after Tesla Cybertruck catches fire outside Trump hotel in Las Vegas |
One person is dead and seven others are injured after a car exploded near the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas Wednesday morning.
According to police, the explosion occurred in the valet area of the hotel around 8:40 a.m. Police activity has shut down Fashion Show Drive between Las Vegas Boulevard and Sammy Davis Jr. Drive.
Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said at a press conference, "There is one deceased individual in the Cybertruck, and I don't know whether it's a male or female."
He added, "We are investigating a number of leads and can't release any information yet. There are seven victims with minor injuries from the explosion."
 What is Trump Hotel Las Vegas: Famous, Luxury and 'Tesla Attack' Tesla Cybertruck explodes outside Trump hotel in Las Vegas |
Cause of the Explosion
The cause of the fire is not known yet. McMahill mentioned the deadly New Orleans attack on Wednesday, where a man drove a pickup truck into a crowd, killing at least 10 people. Because of the timing, officials are taking extra precautions to keep the community safe.
"We're looking for secondary devices," he added.
The fire has been fully extinguished, and the scene is now secure, according to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Chief Kevin McMahill.
Speaking at a press briefing, McMahill stated that police responded to the incident at 8:40 a.m. after receiving reports of an explosion and fire at a hotel on the Las Vegas Strip.
McMahill acknowledged the department's awareness of a separate incident that occurred earlier in New Orleans, where a pickup truck displaying an ISIS flag was driven into a crowd on Bourbon Street, killing 10 and injuring dozens. He noted the similarities in timing but emphasized that no connections had been confirmed.
“With the explosion occurring on the iconic Las Vegas Boulevard, we are taking every precaution, including extensive searches for any secondary devices,” McMahill said.
Jeremy Schwartz, the FBI's acting special agent in charge, confirmed that one individual had died in the explosion. However, Schwartz added, “At this time, we do not have many answers, but the investigation is ongoing.” Authorities are working to determine the cause and whether the incident has any broader implications.
| Investigators did, however, determine that the Tesla truck was rented through the Turo app, the same one used to rent the pickup truck used in the New Orleans attack |
Large fireworks or a bomb
In the past year, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has become a close advisor to Trump. Musk is leading Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with Vivek Ramaswamy, aiming to cut billions in federal spending.
Musk later posted additional information about the explosion.
"We have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself. All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion," Musk wrote.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk addressed the recent vehicle fire involving a Tesla Cybertruck on X, expressing concern and commitment to uncovering the cause.
"The entire Tesla senior team is actively investigating this incident," Musk wrote. "We will share updates as soon as we have more information. This is something we’ve never encountered before."
Later, Musk provided further clarity about the explosion:
"We’ve confirmed that the explosion was caused by a large quantity of fireworks and/or a bomb placed in the bed of the rented Cybertruck. This incident is unrelated to the vehicle itself. All vehicle telemetry data showed normal operation at the time of the explosion," he stated.
| Eric Trump, one of President Donald Trump's sons released the following statement on social media Wednesday: Earlier today, a reported electric vehicle fire occurred in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas. The safety and well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their swift response and professionalism. |
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