Authorities are investigating a Tesla Inc. Cybertruck explosion outside the Trump Las Vegas hotel on Wednesday as a potential act of terror, including whether there's any connection to a truck rampage in New Orleans that killed at least 15 people.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said a 2024 Cybertruck pulled up to the glass entrance doors of the Trump hotel and smoke then appeared from the vehicle before a large explosion.
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Seven people suffered minor injuries, and all are in stable condition or have been released from hospital. The driver, who died in the explosion, has not been publicly identified. “We do know who rented the truck, but we're not willing to release that information at this time,” Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill told reporters.
In a series of posts on X, Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said a team at the company had confirmed the explosion was caused by “very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried” in the rented Cybertruck. Both the Cybertruck and the pickup truck used in New Orleans were rented from Turo, Musk said, adding that “perhaps they are linked in some way.” He offered no evidence for his claims the incidents may have been related.
Turo is a car-sharing marketplace that allows hosts to rent out their vehicles.
A spokesperson for Turo said the company didn't believe either renter involved in the attacks had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat. The company is working with law enforcement authorities investigating both incidents.
“We are heartbroken by the violence perpetrated in New Orleans and Las Vegas, and our prayers are with the victims and families,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
The Las Vegas incident unfolded as the FBI and police investigate the attack on a crowd in New Orleans in the early hours of Wednesday morning that killed at least 15 and injured more than 30.
In remarks at the White House, President Joe Biden said law enforcement officials are tracking whether there's any possible connection between the two incidents.
Appears likely to be an act of terrorism.
January 1, 2025
Both this Cybertruck and the F-150 suicide bomb in New Orleans were rented from Turo. Perhaps they are linked in some way. https://t.co/MM6ehJO3SGThe FBI said authorities in New Orleans found an ISIS flag and that officials are working to determine any potential associations or affiliations the suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, may have had with terrorist groups. Improvised explosive devices were also found, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the developments who asked not to be identified.
AdvertisementThe Las Vegas police said they've found no overt signs of a connection to international terrorism, but they're still exploring all possibilities. “We are absolutely investigating any connection to what happened in New Orleans. We are not ruling anything out yet,” McMahill said.
He added that investigators have found no evidence yet suggesting a wider danger. “There is no further threat to our community,” he said. FBI officials described the explosion as an “isolated incident.”
Musk said the electric-vehicle maker is helping to investigate. McMahill confirmed Musk's cooperation, saying Tesla has provided information from its systems, including vehicle data and charging station records, to aid the probe.
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