Tesla Cybertruck blast near Trump Vegas Hotel: Gas tanks, fireworks, and camping fuel spark terror probe

Authorities are investigating a Tesla Inc. Cybertruck explosion outside the Trump Las Vegas hotel on Wednesday as a potential act of terror, including whether there's any connection to a truck rampage in New Orleans that killed at least 15 people.

The Cybertruck blast, reportedly involving fireworks, gas tanks, and camping fuel, was connected to a detonation system controlled by the driver, according to law enforcement sources.

The FBI is determining whether the incident qualifies as a terrorist act. Jeremy Schwartz, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Las Vegas office, stated it appears to be an isolated event with no ongoing threat to the public.

The explosion, reported at 8:40 am, left the Cybertruck engulfed in flames. One individual was found dead inside the vehicle, and seven others sustained injuries, all in stable condition, according to Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill and Deputy Fire Chief Billy Samuels.

Surveillance footage revealed the Cybertruck, rented in Colorado, arrived in Las Vegas around 7:30 am and drove up and down Las Vegas Boulevard before stopping at the Trump Hotel and detonating.

Video from the scene shows smoke billowing from the vehicle and charred fuel canisters and firework mortars in its bed.

The truck’s renter has been identified, but authorities are withholding the name pending confirmation of the deceased’s identity. Sheriff McMahill noted the Cybertruck’s design minimised the blast’s impact, sparing the hotel’s glass façade.

Surveillance footage

Elon Musk provided investigators with surveillance footage from Tesla charging stations, aiding efforts to track the driver’s movements.

The driver, who died in the explosion, has not been publicly identified. "We do know who rented the truck, but we're not willing to release that information at this time,"  Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill told reporters.

In a series of posts on X, Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said a team at the company had confirmed the explosion was caused by "very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried"  in the rented Cybertruck.

Same car rental shop

Both the Cybertruck and the pickup truck used in New Orleans were rented from Turo, Musk said, adding that "perhaps they are linked in some way." 

He offered no evidence for his claims the incidents may have been related.

Turo is a car-sharing marketplace that allows hosts to rent out their vehicles.

A spokesperson for Turo said the company didn't believe either renter involved in the attacks had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat.

The company is working with law enforcement authorities investigating both incidents.

"We are heartbroken by the violence perpetrated in New Orleans and Las Vegas, and our prayers are with the victims and families," the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

The Las Vegas incident unfolded as the FBI and police investigate the attack on a crowd in New Orleans in the early hours of Wednesday morning that killed at least 15 and injured more than 30.

In remarks at the White House, President Joe Biden said law enforcement officials are tracking whether there's any possible connection between the two incidents.

The FBI said authorities in New Orleans found an ISIS flag and that officials are working to determine any potential associations or affiliations the suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, may have had with terrorist groups. Improvised explosive devices were also found, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the developments who asked not to be identified.

'Isolated incident'

The Las Vegas police said they've found no overt signs of a connection to international terrorism, but they're still exploring all possibilities.

"We are absolutely investigating any connection to what happened in New Orleans. We are not ruling anything out yet,"  McMahill said.

He added that investigators have found no evidence yet suggesting a wider danger. "There is no further threat to our community,"  he said.

FBI officials described the explosion as an "isolated incident." 

Musk said the electric-vehicle maker is helping to investigate. McMahill confirmed Musk's cooperation, saying Tesla has provided information from its systems, including vehicle data and charging station records, to aid the probe.