Las Vegas authorities are investigating the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck at the Trump International Hotel on New Year's Day as a “possible act of terrorism,” ABC News reported. Confirmed.
The newspaper reported that footage of the crash, which killed the electric car driver and injured seven others, showed a large “pyrotechnic mortar” detonating several times after the truck ignited.
Although the fire was extinguished, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said the public should stay away from the area and is treating the explosion as a possible criminal and terrorist act.
“We believe everything is safe right now,” Sheriff Kevin McMahill said in a statement obtained by ABC, adding: “We don't know what we don't know.”
Jeremy Schwartz, acting special agent in charge of the FBI in Las Vegas, confirmed that his team will join the Las Vegas police investigation, CNN reported. reported from related parties press conference.
The vehicle fire was reported just after 8:40 a.m. local time on Wednesday, McMahill said at a news conference.
“There is one deceased person inside the Cybertruck, but we do not know at this time whether it was a man or a woman,” the sheriff's office said.
The seven injured bystanders suffered “minor injuries,” he added.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a post on his Platform X that his entire senior team was “looking into it.”
“Tesla's entire senior team is currently investigating this matter. We will post more information as soon as we know anything,” Musk said, adding, “We have never seen anything like this.”
Eric Trump, son of President-elect Donald Trump and executive vice president of the Trump Organization, also issued the following statement regarding X:
“Earlier today, there was a reported electric car fire in the driveway of Trump Las Vegas,” the younger Trump wrote. “The safety and well-being of our customers and staff remains our top priority. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their quick response and professionalism.”
