Cybertruck filled with fuel and fireworks explodes at Trump’s Las Vegas hotel
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One dead, seven injured as Tesla Cybertruck bursts into flames outside Trump Hotel in Las Vegas (Getty Images/ Alcides Antunes)
A Tesla Cybertruck filled with fuel canisters and firework mortars exploded outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Wednesday morning, resulting in the death of the driver and injuries to seven others. The explosion, which occurred around 8:40 a.m. local time, led to minor injuries for the seven people, though none were life-threatening, according to police.
The truck, rented in Colorado, had only arrived in Las Vegas a couple of hours before the blast. Parked outside the hotel near a glass entrance, the Cybertruck began emitting smoke before erupting in a dramatic explosion. Witnesses captured footage of the truck, which briefly sat idle in front of the hotel, followed by a burst of multi-colored fireworks shooting in various directions.
In the aftermath, emergency responders were seen using a fire-retardant tarp to suppress the blaze while investigators examined the remnants of the truck. The truck bed was left with fuel canisters and fireworks mortars, underscoring the explosive nature of the incident.
Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill released images showing the destruction and emphasized that authorities were investigating the explosion’s potential connections to the New Orleans attack earlier on the same day. In that incident, a man drove a truck bearing an Islamic State (IS) flag into a crowd, killing at least 15 people. McMahill noted that while investigators were looking into the possibility of a link between the two events, they had not yet found any concrete evidence connecting the Las Vegas explosion to the IS attack.
Furthermore, McMahill mentioned the possibility of a connection to the Trump Hotel, which is owned by former President Donald Trump, or to Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla. He acknowledged the unusual nature of the explosion involving a Tesla vehicle in front of a hotel linked to Trump, raising questions that authorities would need to address moving forward.
The FBI has also joined the investigation, examining whether the explosion could be an act of terrorism. However, at a press conference, FBI special agent Jeremy Schwartz clarified that no terrorism-related connections had been confirmed. He added that the agency was focused on uncovering any links but emphasized that it was still too early to definitively categorize the incident.
According to Sheriff McMahill, both the truck involved in the Las Vegas explosion and the vehicle used in the New Orleans attack appeared to have been rented through Turo, an app-based car rental service. A spokesperson for Turo confirmed that the company was cooperating with authorities to aid in the investigation. The spokesperson also clarified that the individuals renting the vehicles did not have criminal backgrounds that would have raised concerns about security threats.
The authorities have identified the name of the person who rented the Cybertruck but have not yet confirmed whether they were the driver at the time of the explosion. Sheriff McMahill assured the public that the explosion posed no ongoing threat to the Las Vegas community, stating, “We have taken all the precautions necessary to keep our community safe.”
In addition to police and fire department personnel, emergency responders swiftly worked to extinguish the fire caused by the explosion. The Trump Hotel, located on the famous Las Vegas Boulevard, was evacuated, and guests were relocated to other accommodations for their safety. Eric Trump, the son of the former president, later issued a statement on social media acknowledging the explosion, reaffirming the hotel’s commitment to guest safety, and praising the rapid response of local authorities.
Witnesses to the incident, such as Stephen Ferlando, who was staying on the 53rd floor of the hotel, described feeling the force of the explosion, noting that the windows shook as a result. The Trump Hotel, with its 64 floors and 1,300 suites, is a prominent landmark on the Las Vegas Strip.
The explosion’s connection to high-profile figures like Trump and Musk has raised further questions. The two have recently forged a closer relationship, with Musk being named by Trump to co-lead the newly established Department of Government Efficiency. However, there has been no direct indication that the explosion was related to these individuals or their political activities.
As the investigation continues, authorities have assured the public that they are prioritizing safety while seeking answers to the troubling incident outside the Trump Hotel.
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