A rented Tesla Cybertruck exploded near the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, prompting officials to investigate the event as a possible terrorist attack.
Key Facts
– Eyewitnesses reported a loud “boom” and saw smoke rising outside the Trump Hotel on January 1.
– The driver of the vehicle was killed, and several bystanders sustained injuries.
– Elon Musk clarified on social media that telemetry data indicated no internal fault with the Cybertruck.
– ABC News revealed that large fireworks-like mortars were stored in the truck’s bed.
– This blast came soon after a separate deadly truck attack in New Orleans.
The Rest of The Story
Initial speculation suggested a battery malfunction could have ignited the Cybertruck’s lithium-ion cells.
However, Musk quickly dismissed that theory, stating that the truck successfully contained the blast and directed the explosion upward.
Investigators believe that some type of powerful firework or explosive device was deliberately placed in the truck’s cargo area.
With recent events in New Orleans fresh on everyone’s minds, federal authorities are treating this case seriously.
They are working to discover if there is any link to the Bourbon Street attack, which also involved a rented truck.
Officials have not released details about the driver’s background, though speculation about a larger pattern of attacks has circulated on social media.
🚨UPDATE: The Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside of Trump Tower (Trump International Hotel) in Las Vegas on New Year's Day is now being investigated as a possible act of terrorist attack! #Terroristattack
Thanks Joe Biden! No one is safe under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris! pic.twitter.com/SB9FbMrFsU
— AJ Huber (@Huberton) January 1, 2025
The Bottom Line
Two dramatic attacks involving vehicles in different cities have raised concerns about coordinated assaults.
For the Las Vegas explosion, investigators say the key evidence points to an external bomb rather than a vehicle defect.
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As authorities piece together the driver’s motives, the public is urged to remain watchful during large gatherings and high-profile events.