One person was killed and at least seven injured when a Cybertruck from electric car manufacturer Tesla suddenly caught fire and exploded outside Donald Trump’s hotel in Las Vegas. The incident is being investigated as a possible act of terrorism.
According to ABC News, the driver of the car died, and he was inside the car when the explosion took place, ABC News reports. The other people who were injured reportedly escaped with minor injuries.
– The Cybertruck, a 2024 model, pulled up to the hotel’s glass entrance doors. Smoke began emerging from the vehicle, and then a large explosion occurred, says Sheriff Kevin McMahill.
The identity of the deceased has not yet been confirmed, with Tesla owner Elon Musk stating that “the whole Tesla senior team is investigating this matter right now” and that “we’ve never seen anything like this“.
“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 states a little later.
Eric Trump, son of Donald Trump, thanked the emergency services and police on social media for their “swift response” and said that the well-being of the guests remained the top priority.
Although the police assess that there is no ongoing threat to the public, the majority of guests at the 64-story building have been evacuated to other hotels as a precaution.
NEW FOOTAGE SHOWS CYBERTRUCK EXPLODING OUTSIDE TRUMP HOTEL IN LAS VEGAS
Dramatic footage shows a Cybertruck exploding outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day.pic.twitter.com/8hsTDrjnv0 https://t.co/nFusMQ23Yg
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 1, 2025
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. https://t.co/HRjb87YbaJ
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 1, 2025