LAS VEGAS—The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is treating the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck that drove up to the main lobby entrance (valet area) of the Trump International Hotel as a possible act of terror.
“We were told that 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,” Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sheriff Kevin McMahill said. “We saw smoke start showing from the vehicle, and then an explosion from the truck occurs.”
At 840 a.m., January 1, Las Vegas Police received reports of explosion and fire at the Trump International Hotel located at 2000 Fashion Show Drive. The vehicle pulled up to the glass doors of the hotel, stopped, then burst into flames killing the driver and the injuring seven, ABC News reports. Two of those injured were transported to University Medical Center of Southern Nevada.
The Tesla Cybertruck which exploded at Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas and the F-150 Ford truck used in the New Orleans terror attack earlier New Year’s Day morning were both rented through carsharing app Turo, per AP.
The explosion left giant plumes of smoke that can be seen across the Vegas Strip. Investigators confirm that the Cybertruck was filled with “fireworks-style mortars.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote on X: “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.”
Elon also shared to X that he believes both the Las Vegas and New Orleans terror attacks are “linked in some way.”
🚨 #BREAKING: Las Vegas Police release new video of the exploded Cybertruck outside of the Trump Hotel, showing explosive ordinances in the back
Police credited the lack of damage to the Trump Hotel to the strength of the Cybertruck, as it remained mostly intact.
“The explosion… pic.twitter.com/lajQZX2pOI
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 2, 2025
Author: Mario Lotmore
