On Wednesday, a Cybertruck exploded near the Trump Las Vegas hotel in Las Vegas, resulting in one fatality and several injuries. The incident could potentially be a terrorist attack, states billionaire and CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk.

According to Musk, the explosion of the Cybertruck was likely an act of terrorism. Furthermore, the event could be linked to the incident in New Orleans, where a car drove into a crowd of people celebrating the New Year. At least 15 people were killed in that incident.

The connection between the events appears to lie in the rental of the vehicles. Both cars were rented through Turo, a platform for car sharing that allows car owners to rent out their vehicles. Musk wrote the following on his social media platform, X:

“Appears likely to be an act of terrorism. Both this Cybertruck and the F-150 suicide bomb in New Orleans were rented from Turo. Perhaps they are linked in some way,” the message states.

What preceded this

The Las Vegas Police Department reported that on Wednesday, a Cybertruck drove up to the glass entrance doors of the Trump Hotel, after which smoke poured out of the vehicle, followed by an explosion. Authorities stated that the driver was killed, and seven others sustained minor injuries.

In a series of posts on the social media platform X, Musk said that Tesla’s team confirmed that the explosion was caused by a very large firework or bomb that was being transported in the rented Cybertruck.

The incident in Las Vegas occurred while the FBI and local police were investigating the pickup truck ramming into a crowd in New Orleans early on Wednesday morning. At least 15 people were killed, and over 30 were injured.

The FBI confirmed that authorities found an ISIS flag and that officials are working to determine any potential links between the suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, and terrorist groups. Homemade explosive devices were also discovered.

On Wednesday, January 1st, in the center of Cetinje, Montenegro, a man opened fire in a bar and then went out into the street, shooting at passersby. As a result, there are fatalities and injuries, according to Deutsche Welle and The Washington Post.

DW reports that the shooting followed a fight at a restaurant, which was sparked by a common domestic conflict.

According to the country’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Danilo Saranovic, at least 10 people were killed, and several others were injured as a result of the incident.

WP adds to the minister’s statement, reporting that during a press conference, he confirmed that the police had identified the attacker as 45-year-old Aco Martinovic. He killed the bar owner in Cetinje, his children, and members of his own family. After the shooting, he fled, and the police sent special forces to search for the attacker.

Police Commissioner Lazar Scepanovic reported that Martinovic had been in the bar all day. He then went home, brought a weapon, and opened fire around 5:30 p.m.

The law enforcement representative added that the shooter killed four people in the bar before leaving and then continued shooting at three other locations.

“He tried to take the lives of four more people, and then fled with the vehicle he was using, which we have found,” the commissioner stated.

He also mentioned that the suspect had received a suspended sentence in 2005 for aggressive behavior and had appealed his latest conviction for illegal possession of firearms.

Later, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Montenegro reported that the shooter attempted suicide near his home in the city center. However, he died from the injuries on the way to the hospital.

It is known that the government of Montenegro, during an emergency phone conference, decided to declare January 2, 3, and 4 as days of mourning. The Prime Minister of the country, Milojko Spajic, called the incident a horrible tragedy.

It should be noted that January 1, 2025, began with a series of events around the world. In the Polish city of Mielnik, a drunk soldier opened fire on a civilian vehicle. The man was immediately arrested after the incident.

In New Orleans, US, a car drove into a crowd of people celebrating the New Year. As a result of the incident, 10 people were killed, and dozens more were injured. The police shot the driver when he exited the vehicle.

In Las Vegas, near the Trump Las Vegas hotel, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded. According to the company’s CEO, it was determined that the cause of the explosion was a large firework or bomb located in the vehicle’s cargo bed.

On Wednesday morning, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded near the entrance to the Trump Las Vegas hotel in Nevada, US. As a result of the explosion, there is one confirmed fatality and several injuries. The police are considering the incident as a potential terrorist attack, according to ABC News and NBC News.

The Clark County Fire Department confirmed that it responded to a vehicle fire in the parking area of the Trump International Hotel (Trump Las Vegas) around 8:40 a.m. local time.

During a press conference, Clark County Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Touchstone stated that when the rescuers began extinguishing the fire, they realized that several people with injuries were around the vehicle at that time.

As a result of the incident, the driver of the Cybertruck was killed, and seven people were injured. Authorities have urged the public to stay away from the scene for the time being.

Police suggest that a terrorist attack might have occurred

ABC reports that investigators are unsure about the cause of the explosion, specifically whether there was an issue with the vehicle itself or if an external factor triggered the blast. Determining the cause is a key focus of the investigation.

A source familiar with the investigation told the outlet that the Tesla Cybertruck was carrying a cargo of mortar shells resembling fireworks. Investigators are working to establish the motive and determine whether the driver intended to detonate the explosion, and if so, why.

As the motive has not yet been determined and other causes are not ruled out, the police are considering the explosion as a potential criminal act and a possible act of terrorism. Evidence collection and the investigation are ongoing.

Reaction of Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s son

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has responded to the incident, as his company manufactures the Cybertruck vehicle involved.

“The whole Tesla senior team is investigating this matter right now. Will post more information as soon as we learn anything. We’ve never seen anything like this,” he wrote.

Just half an hour ago, he reported that the cause of the explosion had already been determined.

“We have now confirmed 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. All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion,” he concluded.

Eric Trump, the son of Donald Trump and executive vice president of the Trump Organization, also posted a message about the incident on social media.

“Earlier today, a 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,” wrote Donald Trump’s son.

In October 2024, Elon Musk unveiled new vehicles – an autonomous taxi and a driverless van. Tesla is confident that these vehicles will be 10 to 20 times safer than conventional cars.