Las Vegas police are crediting Tesla CEO Elon Musk for cooperating with law enforcement's investigation into the Cybertruck explosion in the driveway of the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas.
Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a press conference Wednesday night that Tesla helped provide critical security footage of vehicles at charging stations and other useful data as police began investigating the explosion. said.
“We especially have to thank Mr. Elon Musk, who provided us with considerable additional information about how the vehicle was locked after the explosion due to the nature of the force caused by the explosion. ,'' McMahill told reporters.
“[They were] We can capture all the video from Tesla charging stations across the country,” McMahill added. “[Musk] He sent the truck directly to us, so we appreciate his help in that regard. ”
Around 8:40 a.m. local time, a Cybertruck parked just outside the glass doors of the Trump Las Vegas Hotel and began spewing smoke before exploding with a loud bang. Law enforcement agencies are investigating the explosion as a possible act of terrorism.
Officials said only one driver was killed in the explosion, but at least seven others were injured.
The electric vehicle was found to be carrying mortar fireworks, camping fuel and canisters.
McMahill said investigators have not yet named a suspect because it is unclear how the fire started and they are not “100%” sure of the suspect's identity at this time.
Musk, 53, and President-elect Donald Trump have developed a close relationship in recent months, but McMahill said it was unclear whether that was the root cause of the explosion.
“We know this is a Tesla truck and Elon Musk is working with President-elect Trump, but it's Trump Tower. So there's clearly something to be concerned about there, and that's what we “We continue to investigate,” McMahill said when asked if there was a connection.
Musk kept the public informed about new developments throughout the day, at one point mocking the use of a Cybertruck in what was being investigated as a possible terrorist act.
“The Cybertruck is the worst choice for a car bomb, as its stainless steel armor can contain the explosion better than other commercial vehicles,” he wrote to X.
There was no Secret Service protection at President Trump's Las Vegas hotel when the electric truck exploded, officials told the Post.
So far, the motive for the explosion has not been publicly revealed. The explosion occurred hours after a car crash on New Orleans' famous Bourbon Street early Wednesday morning that killed at least 15 people and injured several others. The FBI confirmed it was investigating an “act of terrorism.”
The suspect who died in the Bourbon Street attack has been identified as Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42, an American national from Texas. Authorities later found an ISIS flag and ISIS-related writing inside the car.
The Cybertruck that exploded in Las Vegas and the Ford pickup used in the New Orleans attack were both rented through the same app, Turo.
McMahill said that Turo was used in both incidents, saying, “This is also a coincidence and absolutely…must continue to be investigated.”
Aside from the use of Turo, authorities have not publicly disclosed any possible link between the two New Year's Day scares.
President Biden acknowledged that law enforcement is investigating “if there is any connection” between the Bourbon Street attack and the Cybertruck explosion.
Asked about a possible connection, McMahill told reporters: “I don't know, but what I can tell you is that we are thoroughly investigating the connection to what happened in New Orleans and other attacks around the world.'' We are currently investigating,” he said. between the two cases.
