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One dead after Tesla Cybertruck explodes outside Trump hotel in Las Vegas One dead after Tesla Cybertruck explodes outside Trump hotel in Las Vegas
(about 3 hours later)
CEO Elon Musk says explosion that also injured seven ‘likely to be a terrorist attack’ Cybertruck was stuffed with firework mortars and camp fuel canisters, with authorities working to determine the motive of the incident
One person died and seven more were injured on Wednesday when a Tesla truck caught fire and exploded outside Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel, authorities said. One person died and seven others were injured after a Tesla Cybertruck packed with fireworks exploded outside president-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel on Wednesday, with officials saying they were investigating potential motives for the incident.
Las Vegas metropolitan police and Clark county fire department officials in Nevada said at a news conference that a person died inside the vehicle. Las Vegas police said that one person died inside the futuristic-looking pickup truck, which also contained camp fuel canisters, while seven people nearby suffered minor injuries.
Another seven people nearby received minor injuries and were taken to a hospital for treatment. “This is a Tesla truck, and we know that Elon Musk is working with president-elect Trump, and it’s the Trump Tower,” police department sheriff Kevin McMahill said when reporters asked about possible political connections.
According to a law enforcement official, the truck was rented via the Turo app and appeared to be carrying a large load of fireworks. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. “So there’s obviously things to be concerned about and it’s something we continue to look at.”
US president Joe Biden said on Wednesday that law enforcement was investigating whether there were any links between a New Orleans truck attack that killed 15 people and the Tesla explosion. McMahill said that authorities knew the identity of the person who rented the truck using the Turo app in Colorado, but were not releasing the name until investigators determine if it was the same person who died.
Elon Musk, the tech industry leader who owns Tesla, said on X that “the whole Tesla senior team” was investigating what happened and “we’ve never seen anything like this.” His remarks included another post referring to a “detonation” when the car exploded. Video presented at an afternoon news conference showed a tumble of charred fireworks mortars, cannisters and other explosive devices crowded into the back of the pickup. The truck bed walls were still intact because the blast shot straight up rather than to the sides.
McMahill said video captured at Tesla charging stations provided by Musk helped authorities track the vehicle’s journey. The vehicle arrived in Las Vegas at about 7.30am then drove about an hour later into the valet area of the Trump International Hotel, where it sat for 15 to 20 seconds before the explosion occurred.
Authorities on Wednesday were still working to get the body out of the vehicle and start processing the evidence inside.
“Our number one goal is to ensure that we have the proper identification of the subject involved in this incident,” said Jeremy Schwartz, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Las Vegas office. “Following that, our second objective is to determine whether this was an act of terrorism or not.”
The truck explosion came hours after a driver rammed a truck into a crowd in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter early on New Year’s Day, killing at least 15 people before being shot to death by police. That crash was being investigated as a terrorist attack and police believe the driver was not acting alone.
US president Joe Biden said on Wednesday that law enforcement was investigating whether there were any links between the New Orleans truck and the Tesla explosion.
Shortly after the incident, Musk said on X, which he also owns, that “the whole Tesla senior team” was investigating what happened and “we’ve never seen anything like this.” His remarks included another post referring to a “detonation” when the car exploded.
Musk later posted again, saying: “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.”Musk later posted again, saying: “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.”
He subsequently speculated that the incident was “likely to be a terrorist attack” and posed a question about whether there was a link with the New Orleans mass killing, which the authorities have said they are treating as a terrorist incident.He subsequently speculated that the incident was “likely to be a terrorist attack” and posed a question about whether there was a link with the New Orleans mass killing, which the authorities have said they are treating as a terrorist incident.
Explosives contained in the truck were reported to include not just fireworks but gas tanks and camping fuel, according to a report by CNN, which cited an unnamed law enforcement official as saying the authorities suspect that the unidentified driver of the vehicle detonated some sort of explosive system.
There had been no official, public confirmation of any links to terrorism early on Wednesday evening.There had been no official, public confirmation of any links to terrorism early on Wednesday evening.
The vehicle in questions was a Tesla Cybertruck, a futuristic-looking pickup truck with bodywork echoing a stealth-fighter type aircraft.
A Turo spokesperson did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Law enforcement officials have not ruled out terrorism as a possible motive, a person familiar with the matter said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation.
“I know you have a lot of questions,” Jeremy Schwartz, acting special agent in charge for the FBI’s Las Vegas office, told reporters. “We don’t have a lot of answers.”
Musk became a prominent supporter and donor to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign this year. He shook things up when he began appearing at the Republican’s election rallies in the fall and was treated like a superstar by Trump, then became a close adviser to the president-elect after Trump beat the Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, in November. Harris had taken over from Biden when the latter dropped out of his re-election race in the summer.Musk became a prominent supporter and donor to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign this year. He shook things up when he began appearing at the Republican’s election rallies in the fall and was treated like a superstar by Trump, then became a close adviser to the president-elect after Trump beat the Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, in November. Harris had taken over from Biden when the latter dropped out of his re-election race in the summer.
Trump named Musk as joint head of a newly created entity called the “department of government efficiency” that will seek to cut costs from the federal government machinery once the new administration is sworn in on 20 January.
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Trump named Musk as joint head of a newly-created entity called the “department of government efficiency” that will seek to cut costs from the federal government machinery once the new administration is sworn in on 20 January.
The controversial decision has brought questions about potential conflicts of interest and national security concerns regarding Musk’s US and global business interests and federal government business. There is very little detail about the planned structure or constitutional foundation of creating such a “department”.The controversial decision has brought questions about potential conflicts of interest and national security concerns regarding Musk’s US and global business interests and federal government business. There is very little detail about the planned structure or constitutional foundation of creating such a “department”.
A county spokesperson said in a statement that the fire in the valet parking area of the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas was reported at 8.40am local time.A county spokesperson said in a statement that the fire in the valet parking area of the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas was reported at 8.40am local time.
No cause was given and details were minimal.No cause was given and details were minimal.
In Las Vegas, witness Ana Bruce, visiting from Brazil, said she heard three explosions.In Las Vegas, witness Ana Bruce, visiting from Brazil, said she heard three explosions.
“The first one where we saw the fire, the second one, I guess, was the battery or something like that, and the third was the big one that smoked the entire area and was the moment when everyone was told to evacuate and stay away,” Bruce said.“The first one where we saw the fire, the second one, I guess, was the battery or something like that, and the third was the big one that smoked the entire area and was the moment when everyone was told to evacuate and stay away,” Bruce said.
Her travel companion, Alcides Antunes, showed video he took of flames lapping the sides of the silver-colored vehicle.Her travel companion, Alcides Antunes, showed video he took of flames lapping the sides of the silver-colored vehicle.
Eric Trump, a son of the president-elect and executive vice-president of the Trump Organization, posted about the fire on the social media platform X. He praised the fire department and local law enforcement “for their swift response and professionalism”.Eric Trump, a son of the president-elect and executive vice-president of the Trump Organization, posted about the fire on the social media platform X. He praised the fire department and local law enforcement “for their swift response and professionalism”.
The 64-story hotel is just off the famed Las Vegas Strip and across the street from the Fashion Show Las Vegas shopping mall.The 64-story hotel is just off the famed Las Vegas Strip and across the street from the Fashion Show Las Vegas shopping mall.
The Associated Press contributed reportingThe Associated Press contributed reporting