Police are investigating after a Tesla Cybertruck filled with fuel canisters and fireworks mortars exploded outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The driver was killed and seven people were injured, police said, without naming any of the people involved. Officials said all injuries were minor.
The truck was rented in Colorado and arrived in the city on Wednesday morning less than two hours before the explosion, police said. The vehicle, which was parked near a glass door in front of the hotel, began to smoke and then exploded.
In an evening address, President Joe Biden said the White House was investigating the incident and that law enforcement was investigating whether it had any connection to the New Orleans attack that killed 15 people early on New Year’s Day.
At a press conference in the afternoon, Sheriff Kevin McMahon showed dramatic footage of the explosion and photos of the aftermath, which included several large fireworks and several fuel canisters in the bed of the truck.
The footage shows the truck parked directly in front of the hotel entrance. The truck remains idle for several seconds before exploding – multi-colored fireworks shooting in different directions.
Another video shows investigators using black fire-fighting tar to put out the fire and the charred remains in the bed of the truck. A series of gas and fuel canisters were left behind, along with the remains of more than a dozen fireworks mortars.
The fire broke out at 08:40 pm (15:40 GMT), hours after a truck bearing an Islamic State (IS) group flag was driven into people in New Orleans. At least 15 people were killed and dozens were injured.
McMahill of the Las Vegas Police Department said authorities were looking into whether the incident could be linked to the New Orleans incident, where explosives were found near the scene.
He said they were also investigating whether it could be linked to the hotel’s owner, President Donald Trump, or Tesla owner Elon Musk.
The FBI said the agency is investigating whether the incident was an act of terrorism, but officials said the identity of the driver of the deceased vehicle has not yet been confirmed. Authorities also said there is no evidence yet that the incident is linked to the Islamic State group.
Both vehicles appear to have been rented from the app-based car rental company Turo, the sheriff said.
Authorities said they have the name of the person who rented the vehicle, but it has not been officially confirmed that it was the person driving the vehicle.
Biden was briefed on both the New Orleans attack and the Las Vegas explosion.
“We’re tracking the explosion of a Cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas,” said the president in an evening address.
“Law enforcement and the intelligence community are investigating this as well, including whether there’s any possible connection with the attack in New Orleans.”
Fire department officials said emergency responders quickly extinguished the vehicle fire.
They added that the public should stay away from the area. The hotel was evacuated, with most of the guests moving to a different location.
In a post on X, Trump’s son Eric Trump said that”reported electric vehicle fire occurred in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas”.
“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,”
