Fireworks and gas canisters were discovered packed into the back of a Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel early Wednesday morning, killing the individual inside and injuring seven others. Authorities are now investigating the explosion for potential terrorism links.
According to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and Clark County Fire Department officials, the explosion occurred near the Trump International Hotel, causing minor injuries to seven people nearby. Investigators have been working throughout the day to recover the body from the vehicle and process evidence found inside. President Joe Biden was briefed on the incident.
Jeremy Schwartz, acting special agent in charge for the FBI’s Las Vegas office, said identifying the individual involved is the top priority, followed by determining whether the explosion was an act of terrorism.
Sheriff Kevin McMahill confirmed that the Tesla was rented through the Turo app in Colorado, but authorities are withholding the identity of the renter until they confirm if the individual is the same person who died in the explosion. Video footage from Tesla charging stations, provided by CEO Elon Musk, helped investigators trace the truck’s movements. The vehicle arrived in Las Vegas around 7:30 AM, and roughly an hour later, it was driven into the valet area of the Trump International Hotel. About 15 to 20 seconds after entering the area, the explosion occurred.
Footage from the scene showed firework mortars, gas canisters, and other explosive devices inside the truck bed. The blast appeared to be directed upward, as the sides of the truck remained intact.
Musk later confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that the explosion was caused by large fireworks and/or a bomb placed in the back of the truck, not by the vehicle itself. He also assured that all vehicle telemetry was normal at the time of the blast.
Musk, who has recently become an ally of Trump, stated that his senior team was investigating the incident. Neither Trump nor Musk were in Las Vegas during the explosion, as both had attended Trump’s New Year’s Eve party in South Florida. Musk has supported Trump financially during the presidential campaign and has been named to help lead efforts to reduce government size and spending.
Sheriff McMahill also addressed concerns about possible political connections, noting that the explosion occurred at the Trump International Hotel and involved a Tesla truck, owned by Musk’s company. “There’s obviously things to be concerned about, and it’s something we continue to look at,” McMahill said.
The explosion came just hours after a deadly truck attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day, where a driver rammed a vehicle into a crowd, killing at least 15 people before being shot by police. Investigators are now exploring any potential links between the two incidents, as well as other recent global attacks.
Turo, the car rental company, released a statement saying it is cooperating with authorities. The company added that neither renter involved in the Las Vegas or New Orleans attacks had any criminal history that would have raised red flags.
Witnesses described hearing a series of blasts. Ana Bruce, a visitor from Brazil, said, “The first one was when we saw the fire, the second one was likely the battery, and the third was the big one that smoked the entire area.”
The explosion took place near the 64-story Trump International Hotel, which is located just off the Las Vegas Strip, across from the Fashion Show Las Vegas shopping mall.
Eric Trump, the former president’s son, praised the local fire and law enforcement response on social media, calling it “swift and professional.”
