1 dead after Tesla Cybertruck explodes outside Trump hotel in Las Vegas
WASHINGTON (AA) – One person has been confirmed dead after a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, police confirmed Wednesday.
The deceased individual was inside the vehicle at the time of the explosion, but the person’s identity, including whether they were male or female, was not immediately clear, Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill said during a press conference.
Seven bystanders were injured in the blast.
“We’re looking for secondary devices. We’re taking it slow, and we are going to make sure that we remain safe in our community,” McMahill said. “I just want to say to all of the people here in Las Vegas, there does not appear to be any further threat to our community here.”
Videos posted on social media appear to show the vehicle engulfed in an inferno amid multiple small explosions and the sound of what appears to be fireworks. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known.
ABC News reported that the incident is being investigated as a potential act of terrorism.
Later, in another press briefing, McMahill showed in a video the gasoline canisters, camp fuel canisters and large firework mortars as the evidence in the back of the vehicle.
He said the exterior of the Cybertruck is completely intact.
“The fact that this was a Cybertruck really limited the damage that occurred inside of the valet because it had most of the blast go up through the truck and out,” said McMahill.
He also said he “is very well aware” that there is a name that has already been related out into the media.
“I am not going to confirm any names to you as I sit here today, because I cannot do that with 100% certainty of who the individual is,” he added.
The truck was rented in Colorado and arrived in Las Vegas around 7.30 a.m. (1530GMT) before pulling into the Trump hotel. It was rented on the Turo car rental marketplace app.