TESLA CYBERTRUCK:
A Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day. The incident occurred when the vehicle, which had pulled up to the hotel’s glass entrance doors, began emitting smoke and then exploded. Authorities report that one person died in the explosion, while seven others sustained injuries. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, led by Sheriff Kevin McMahill, is investigating the incident and pursuing several leads.
In light of a separate terror attack in New Orleans on the same day, where a driver rammed into a crowd, authorities are closely examining the situation. Local law enforcement has checked for any secondary devices in Las Vegas but have reassured the public that there is currently no ongoing threat.
UPDATE ON CYBER TRUCK EXPLOSION
Sheriff Kevin McMahill provided an initial briefing regarding the explosion of a Cyber Truck in front of Trump Tower in Las Vegas this morning.
Key details:
– At approximately 8:40 a.m., reports were received of a vehicle explosion.
– One person… https://t.co/woCvwR1Qvq pic.twitter.com/BLf5jQsRzm— LVMPD (@LVMPD) January 1, 2025
During a follow-up briefing, authorities revealed that investigators found gas tanks, camping fuel, and large firework mortars in the Cybertruck’s bed. The cause of the explosion remains unclear, as they have yet to determine what ignited these materials.
The Cybertruck had been rented in Colorado and driven to Las Vegas, where it was tracked using Tesla charging stations. The vehicle arrived in the city around 7:30 a.m. and spent about an hour driving on Las Vegas Boulevard before pulling into the Trump International Hotel’s valet area. The explosion occurred at approximately 8:40 a.m., causing no significant damage to the hotel’s front doors, as the blast mostly directed upward through the vehicle.
McMahill confirmed that the seven injured individuals suffered only minor injuries, with two briefly hospitalized before being discharged. The FBI is conducting a joint investigation with local law enforcement, aiming to identify the individual in the Cybertruck and assess whether this was a terrorist act.
ELON MUSK ON X:
Authorities are also considering a potential link between this explosion and the New Orleans incident, as well as other attacks worldwide. McMahill also mentioned the connection between Musk and President-elect Trump, suggesting that investigators are considering this as a possible motive. Notably, both the Cybertruck and the vehicle involved in the New Orleans attack were rented via the Turo car-sharing platform, though Turo has stated that neither renter had a criminal background.
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
As for the cause of the explosion, Musk speculated on X (formerly Twitter) that fireworks or a bomb in the vehicle’s bed might have triggered the blast. He also mentioned that Tesla’s senior team was looking into the incident, calling it unprecedented. Musk, a major donor to Trump’s campaign, has been linked to the president-elect, and this connection is part of the ongoing investigation.
This explosion comes amid a year marked by several recalls for the Cybertruck, including issues with the tire pressure warning light, windshield wipers, rearview display, and accelerator pedal.
