A fatal explosion involving a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas has prompted a terrorism investigation. The incident, which occurred Wednesday morning, resulted in one death and injuries to seven others, and is under investigation by local and federal authorities.
The explosion happened at approximately 8:40 a.m. in the valet area of the hotel, located near the Las Vegas Strip. Las Vegas County Sheriff Kevin McMahill confirmed the death of an individual inside the vehicle, stating that authorities were working to remove the body. Seven individuals sustained injuries, two of whom were transported to a local medical facility.
While the cause remains undetermined, police are exploring all possibilities, including terrorism. This comes shortly after a deadly vehicle attack in New Orleans on New Year's Eve. Sheriff McMahill noted they are "very well aware" of the New Orleans attack and are taking precautions to ensure community safety, including searching for secondary devices.
The Las Vegas Metro Police Department, along with the FBI, are jointly investigating. Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Schwartz stated that they are in the initial stages of the investigation and do not yet have definitive answers regarding the cause of the explosion.
Social media posts captured the scene of the incident, with reports of multiple loud booms that were described as more intense than the typical New Year's Eve fireworks. Witnesses staying at nearby hotels described the sound as shaking glass and prompting evacuations. The hotel itself was evacuated, with guests temporarily moved to Resorts World.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk acknowledged the incident on social media platform X, stating that his team is investigating, noting that they had never seen anything like this before. Eric Trump, an executive vice president of the Trump Organization, also commented, praising the swift response from first responders. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not released further details.
