Police behind the investigation of the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas expressed gratitude towards CEO Elon Musk on Wednesday citing the strong construction of the vehicle body that limited the explosion. Police noted that the attack could have been worse but the vehicle limited the blast and its damage.
Cybertruck helped contain the damage
Speaking to CNN, Kevin McMahill, sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, said that the structural design of the Cybertruck helped contain the damage in the hotel valet area, directing the explosion’s force upwards and preserving the building’s front glass windows.
“The fact that this was a Cybertruck really limited the damage that occurred inside of the valet because it had most of the blast. Up through the truck and out,” he said.
“You’ll see that the front glass doors at the Trump Hotel were not even broken by that blast which they were parked directly in front of,” he added.
Official reveals how Tesla CEO helped to track driver
He further elaborated on how the Tesla Motors’ CEO helped the police to track the driver.
“I have to thank Elon Musk specifically,” McMahill expressed gratitude towards Tesla’s CEO, saying that Elon Musk provided “additional information”, including surveillance footage from charging stations to assist in tracking the suspect.
“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,” Musk said in a post on X.
Musk further clarified that “All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion,” referring to Tesla’s data collection system that monitors vehicle performance metrics, including mileage and travel distance.
Trump, Tesla, and Tower
“It’s a Tesla truck, and we know that Elon Musk is working with President-elect Trump, and it’s the Trump tower,” McMahill said. “So, there’s obviously things to be concerned about there, and that’s something we continue to look at.”
The sequence of events leading to the incident
The Cybertruck, rented in Colorado, made its way to Las Vegas, arriving at 7.30 am on Wednesday, according to McMahill. Following an hour of driving along Las Vegas Boulevard, the vehicle reached the Trump Hotel where it detonated, according to officials.
The official said that surveillance recordings showed the driver passing the Trump Hotel approximately an hour before the explosion, later returning to stop in front of the building moments before the blast.
Police-released CCTV footage captured the explosion incident. Additional social media videos showed the vehicle covered in smoke whilst being extinguished with water. Police officials presented footage during a press conference showing charred petrol containers and firework mortars discovered in the remains of the severely burnt vehicle.
Several law enforcement officials involved in the investigation indicated that the driver likely had military experience.
Although authorities have identified who rented the vehicle, they are withholding the driver’s name pending identification.
The incident occurred shortly after a tragic event in New Orleans, where a pickup truck ploughed into New Year’s revellers on Bourbon Street early Wednesday, causing at least 15 fatalities and numerous injuries. According to local and federal authorities, the driver possessed potential improvised explosive devices and an ISIS flag in the vehicle.
Coincident or planned?
Turo, an online vehicle-sharing platform, confirmed its service was used to rent vehicles involved in both the New Orleans and Las Vegas incidents, and stated it is assisting authorities.
“We do not believe that either renter involved in the Las Vegas and New Orleans attacks had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat,” a Turo spokesperson told CNN.
McMahill said the shared rental platform for both incidents was merely a “coincidence,” and investigations are ongoing. “We are absolutely investigating any connectivity to what happened in New Orleans as well as other attacks that have been occurring around the world,” McMahill said.