A Tesla Cybertruck explosion occurred outside President-elect Donald Trump’s hotel in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day, marking the latest in a series of violent incidents across the U.S. this week. Initial investigations confirmed that the individual inside the vehicle was killed. Seven bystanders sustained minor injuries and are in stable condition. Authorities are investigating the incident as a possible act of terrorism and are working to identify the suspect and determine their motives.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk praised the Cybertruck’s robust design, noting that it helped mitigate the impact of the explosion. On X (formerly Twitter), Musk commented that the vehicle “contained the explosion, directing the blast upwards,” thereby preventing damage to the hotel’s structure. He also highlighted that even the glass lobby doors remained intact.
The Cybertruck had reportedly been rented via the Turo app in Colorado and was traced using Tesla’s charging network, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD). Investigators found fuel canisters and large firework mortars in the truck’s bed, which likely amplified the blast. Video footage captured the Cybertruck parked outside the hotel entrance before it exploded in a burst of fireworks. Firefighters extinguished the blaze using fire retardant tarps, which revealed what appeared to be fuel canisters and more than a dozen firework mortars.
The explosion occurred at 15:40 GMT, just hours after another tragedy in New Orleans. In the earlier incident, a cabbie drove a truck displaying an Islamic State flag into a crowd, killing 15 people and injuring dozens more. Authorities have not yet determined if the two incidents are connected but have confirmed they are under active investigation.
The New Orleans attack was intentional, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found at the scene, according to New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick. Both incidents have heightened concerns over the threat of terrorism.
Federal, state, and local authorities are collaborating to ensure public safety as investigations continue amid these troubling New Year’s events.
