In a shocking incident early Wednesday morning, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas.
An explosion on Wednesday morning at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas led to one fatality and injuries to seven others, sparking a terrorism investigation, Fox News reported.
Reports received by the Las Vegas Police indicated a vehicle fire outside the hotel, leading to a prompt response by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and local fire services. Firefighters and police arrived on the scene within minutes.
Clark County Fire Department Deputy Chief Thomas Touchstone commented on the emergency response. "When crews arrived, they quickly began to extinguish the fire when they realized at the same time that there were multiple people with injuries," he said. This testimony highlights the rapid action taken by first responders.
Despite the quick extinguishment of the fire, the explosion left one individual deceased in the vehicle and seven others with various injuries. Two of the injured were hospitalized.
Further complicating the morning's events, a man in New Orleans drove a truck displaying an ISIS flag into a crowd. This occurred on the same day, hinting at the potential for these two incidents to be linked, although this remains speculative at the moment.
Eric Trump, son of former President Donald Trump, expressed his gratitude towards the emergency teams. "The safety and well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their swift response and professionalism," he stated.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Chief Kevin McMahill assured the public of safety following the incident. "The vehicle has been fully extinguished, and the scene is safe," reported Chief McMahill.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk also addressed concerns, stating that the Tesla senior team was thoroughly investigating the cause of the explosion. He clarified later, emphasizing that the explosion was the result of fireworks or a bomb placed in the Cybertruck and not a fault with the vehicle itself.
FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Schwartz also weighed in. He acknowledged the complexity of the situation, indicating that while the investigation was ongoing, little was clear regarding the deceased’s identity or the exact motivations behind the act.
Musk reinforced this focus on external factors, indicating that "the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself." He assured that all vehicle telemetry indicated normal operation at the time of the incident.
Regarding possible connections between the Las Vegas and New Orleans incidents, Former NYPD and Fox News contributor Paul Mauro suggested, "I cannot recall two terrorist events occurring on the same day that were not coordinated. While chances are that these two events are not related, it is something investigators have to consider."
The authorities continue to investigate, gathering more information to understand the full scope of this incident. The community remains on high alert, while official statements and further details are expected as the inquiry progresses.
