JUST IN: Terrorism Probe Launched After Cybertruck Explodes Outside Trump Property
Federal investigators are investigating the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside President-elect Donald Trump’s hotel in Las Vegas as an act of terrorism.
Officials have confirmed that Clark County firefighters responded to a vehicle fire outside Trump’s hotel just before 9 a.m. local time. Footage from the inside the lobby shows the vehicle — which was parked just outside the building’s main entranceway — completely engulfed in flames. Loud pops could also be heard coming from the vehicle as it burns, while an additional angle captured the moment the vehicle exploded with significant force.
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Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and Clark County Fire Department officials said at a news conference that one person was killed inside the vehicle. Crews are currently working to retrieve the body.
An additional seven people were injured as a result of the blast, two of whom were transported to an area hospital.
Investigators have not yet released a motive, while details at the press conference were sparse. “I know you have a lot of questions,” Jeremy Schwartz, acting FBI Special Agent in Charge for the Las Vegas office, told reporters. “We don’t have a-lot of answers.”
According to a report from CNN, a law enforcement official who has been briefed on the situation said the incident is being investigated as an act of terrorism.
Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Police Department was asked whether the incident could possibly be related to the terrorist attack that killed at least 10 New Years celebrants in New Orleans this morning.
Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42, has been identified as the now deceased attacker, who intentionally ran down people who were celebrating the New Year along the iconic Bourbon Street.
Investigators recovered an Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) flag from the suspect’s truck, in addition to improvised explosive devices. Authorities also uncovered at least two additional explosive devices around the city’s famed French Quarter, while Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has confirmed that law enforcement officers are searching for additional suspects.
During the news conference, McMahill stated that Las Vegas law enforcement is “well aware of what happened in New Orleans,” including the fact that explosive devices were recovered. “As you can imagine, with an explosion here on an iconic Las Vegas Boulevard, we are taking all of the precautions that we need to take to keep our community safe,” he said, adding that there is currently no indication of additional threats to the public in Las Vegas.
Officials are asking the public to stay away from the area while the investigation unfolds.
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