Mystery of New Year’s Day Tesla Attack Deepens
The details surrounding the New Year’s Day explosion involving a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas have become more complex, as a recent police report sheds new light on the incident. This 78-page report from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) found that Matthew Libersberger, the individual who died by suicide before the blast, had left a manifesto on his cell phone, which investigators later recovered.
Interestingly, the Army Department has classified this manifesto, leading to the investigation being handed over to federal authorities. The report confirms that the Green Berets involved were on leave from Special Forces and rented the Cybertruck using Turo.
On January 1, 2025, shortly after 8:40 a.m., Libersberger drove the vehicle—which he had equipped with fireworks, gas cans, and camping fuel—right to the hotel, where it exploded. The blast resulted in injuries to six people and caused significant property damage.
Authorities characterized the explosion as a planned vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) attack. However, they stopped short of labeling it as an act of terrorism. Investigators pieced together Libersberger’s final days using various sources, including phone data, banking information, and surveillance footage.
Footage captured just prior to the explosion showed Libersberger pouring accelerants into the truck’s bed, indicating a level of premeditation rather than impulsive behavior. Counterterrorism officials have suggested that he aimed to make a major public statement, possibly selecting Las Vegas for its visibility and impact.
In his manifesto, Libersberger claimed that the act was not terrorism-related but instead a way for soldiers to “purify” their minds. He offered strong critiques of what he termed the “reckless leadership” in the U.S., suggesting the country was “nearly collapsing.” In a note on his phone, he mentioned, “Americans only care about spectacle and violence,” and posed the question of whether using fireworks and explosives was an effective way to convey such a message. One of his writings appeared to address Sean Ryan, a former Navy SEAL and CIA contractor.
Fox News Digital has attempted to reach the LVMPD for additional comments on this unfolding situation.
