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While the U.S. was celebrating the start of 2025, tragedy struck in Las Vegas when a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump Las Vegas hotel. The explosion killed the driver and injured several bystanders, sparking an immediate investigation. Authorities are now considering whether the explosion could be linked to terrorism, especially in light of a deadly truck attack earlier in the day in New Orleans.
#BREAKING: Las Vegas Police release new video of the exploded Cybertruck outside of the Trump Hotel, showing explosive ordinances in the back
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 2, 2025
Police credited the lack of damage to the Trump Hotel to the strength of the Cybertruck, as it remained mostly intact.
“The explosion… pic.twitter.com/lajQZX2pOI
The Tesla Cybertruck was rented through the same platform, Turo, that was reportedly used for the New Orleans attack, which has led law enforcement to investigate a potential connection between the two incidents. According to the Las Vegas Sheriff, the vehicle had been parked in front of the hotel for about 15 to 20 seconds before it exploded. Inside the truck, investigators discovered fireworks-style mortars, gasoline cans, and camping fuel canisters, raising suspicions that this was no ordinary vehicle fire but possibly a planned attack.
Adding another layer of intrigue, Tesla CEO Elon Musk stepped into the investigation, offering his assistance to authorities. Musk helped unlock the Cybertruck after it auto-locked following the explosion and provided video footage showing the truck's journey from Colorado to Las Vegas. This unexpected involvement by the tech mogul has only intensified the attention on this case.
Authorities are not ruling out terrorism, and the FBI is involved in the investigation. One key detail is that the truck involved in the explosion was rented from Turo, the same platform used for the truck in the New Orleans attack. Investigators are looking into whether these incidents are connected in any way, though no definitive link has been made so far.
The explosion at the Trump Las Vegas hotel is still under investigation, but so far, law enforcement has labeled the incident as an “isolated” one with no further threats to the community. However, with the FBI now leading the investigation, and the presence of potential explosives in the vehicle, there are growing concerns that this could be part of a larger, coordinated effort. Authorities are continuing to piece together the details, hoping to uncover whether this was an isolated attack or part of a broader, sinister plot.
Source: ABC News
