The explosion and fire involving a Tesla Cybertruck at the entrance of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday morning is being investigated as a potential act of terrorism, according to a
law enforcement official familiar with the case.
At a news conference, Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill reported that a vehicle fire was called in just after 8:40 a.m. Emergency crews arrived to find a 2024 Tesla Cybertruck fully engulfed in flames.
“There is one deceased individual inside the Cybertruck, but the identity and gender of the victim remain unknown at this time,” McMahill stated.
Seven other individuals sustained what McMahill described as “minor” injuries resulting from the explosion.
Jeremy Schwartz, the acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Las Vegas office, confirmed that federal authorities are actively participating in the investigation.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk addressed the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter), announcing that the company is conducting its own inquiry into the matter.
“The entire Tesla senior team is investigating this situation as a top priority,” Musk wrote. “This is unprecedented for us.”
Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization, also commented on X, expressing gratitude to first responders and prioritizing guest and staff safety.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident. We commend the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their swift and professional response,” Trump stated.
Galit Ventura Rozen, a guest staying on the 62nd floor of Resorts World Las Vegas, recalled seeing a large cloud of smoke rising from the Trump Hotel area. She began recording video footage from her room.
“It was a massive cloud of smoke. We weren’t sure what had happened,” Rozen said. “Later, we saw ambulances and police cars lined up, as well as hotel guests gathered in a nearby parking lot.”
Sheriff McMahill noted that investigators are drawing comparisons to a recent New Year’s Eve truck attack in New Orleans, which resulted in at least 10 deaths and multiple injuries. As a precaution, authorities are sweeping the area for potential secondary devices to ensure public safety.
“At this point, there is no evidence of any ongoing threat to our community,” McMahill reassured. “However, the nature of the vehicle, the location, and other factors raise many questions that we are working diligently to answer.”
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Photo by Tony Webster from San Francisco, California, Wikimedia commons.