Authorities Investigate Possible Terrorism, Link to New Orleans Truck Attack

Tesla Cybertruck Explosion in Las Vegas

A Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year's Day, killing the driver and injuring seven bystanders. Authorities are investigating the possibility of terrorism.

The explosion occurred just before 9 a.m. near the hotel's main entrance, sending debris flying and damaging the entrance and nearby areas. The FBI is investigating the incident to determine if it was an act of terrorism.

"I know everybody's interested in that word and trying to see if we can say, 'Hey, this is a terrorist attack,'" said Jeremy Schwartz, the acting FBI special agent in charge in Las Vegas. "That is our goal, and that's what we're trying to do."

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that the explosion was an isolated event and that the vehicle was rented in Colorado through Turbo, a car-renting app.

"I have to thank Elon Musk specifically," said Sheriff Kevin McMahill. "He gave us quite a bit of additional information in regards to how the vehicle was locked after it exploded due to the nature of the force from the explosion."

Musk, who is closely working with President-elect Donald Trump, addressed the choice of vehicle used in the explosion on his platform.

"The evil knuckleheads picked the wrong vehicle for a terrorist attack," Musk wrote on X. "Cybertruck actually contained the explosion and directed the blast upwards. Not even the glass doors of the lobby were broken."

Musk confirmed that the explosions were caused by large fireworks or bombs, not the vehicle itself.

Authorities are investigating the individual who rented the vehicle and are looking into connections between the explosion and the truck that plowed into a crowd of people celebrating New Year's on Bourbon Street, killing at least 15 people and injuring 35. Both vehicles used in these attacks were rented through Turo.

The sheriff stated that there had been no indications to connect the explosion to ISIS at the time, as the driver in the New Orleans attack was.