Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Nicolas Maduro: The Palestinian cause is the most sacred cause for humanity, and we propose sending teams of builders, farmers, and doctors to Gaza to help the people
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Lebanon: IOF infiltrate Khallet Wardeh towards the municipality in the town of Aita al-Shaab, south of Lebanon.
Leaders of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey sign a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Trump arrives in Sharm el-Sheikh
Israeli PM's office: PM informed Trump he would not attend Sharm el-Sheikh Summit on account of Jewish holidays.
Israeli media: Netanyahu makes last-minute decision to cancel trip to Sharm el-Sheikh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Large crowds gather in Khan Younis to welcome the liberated Palestinian detainees, waving flags of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in celebration
Buses of released prisoners arrive in Ramallah
Israeli media: Netanyahu gifts Trump a "Golden Dove".
Israeli media: Netanyahu will take part in Sharm el-Sheikh Summit.

Tesla cybertruck explodes outside Trump hotel in Las Vegas, one dead

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 2 Jan 2025 09:21
4 Min Read

Reports of one death and seven injuries in Las Vegas after a Tesla Cybertruck packed with fireworks exploded.

Listen
  • x
  • Clark County Fire Department crews work outside Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas after the fire and explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck in the valet area, on Wednesday, January 1, 2025.(AP)
    Clark County Fire Department crews work outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas after the fire and explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck in the valet area, on January 1, 2025. (AP)

One person was killed and seven others injured after a Tesla Cybertruck packed with fireworks exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel on Wednesday. Authorities are investigating the possible motives behind the incident.

Las Vegas police confirmed that the explosion, which occurred at around 8:40 am local time, resulted in the death of the person inside the truck, which also contained camp fuel canisters. Seven people nearby suffered minor injuries.

Police Sheriff Kevin McMahill commented on the situation, saying, "This is a Tesla truck, and we know that Elon Musk is working with President-elect Trump, and it’s the Trump Tower. So there’s obviously things to be concerned about, and it’s something we continue to look at."

McMahill added that investigators had identified the person who rented the truck through the Turo app in Colorado, but were withholding the name until it was confirmed whether that individual was the one who died in the explosion.

A video shown at a press conference displayed a pile of charred fireworks mortars, canisters, and other explosive materials packed into the back of the truck. The truck’s bed walls remained intact, as the blast shot upwards rather than outward.

It looks like a suicide bomber.

- The Cybertruck pulls up to the front of Trump Tower.
- No one gets out
- Cybertruck explodes with most of the energy being in the truck bed and going out through the cover. pic.twitter.com/MWVANEnMoi

— 🇺🇸 Tesla Hawk 🇺🇸 (@TeslaHawx) January 1, 2025

Police also revealed that video footage from Tesla charging stations, provided by Musk, helped track the truck’s movements. The vehicle arrived in Las Vegas at around 7:30 a.m. and later drove into the valet area of the Trump International Hotel, where it sat for about 15 to 20 seconds before the explosion occurred.

Related News

Tesla ordered to pay $243 million in Florida autopilot crash verdict

Musk’s AfD endorsement fuels Tesla backlash in German factory town

Jeremy Schwartz, acting special agent in charge of the FBI's Las Vegas office, stated, “Our number one goal is to ensure that we have the proper identification of the subject involved in this incident. Following that, our second objective is to determine whether this was an act of terrorism or not."

Not an isolated incident 

The explosion comes just hours after a separate truck incident in New Orleans' French Quarter, which resulted in at least 15 deaths. President Joe Biden confirmed that law enforcement was exploring potential connections between the two incidents.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, reacted to the explosion on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “The whole Tesla senior team is investigating what happened and we’ve never seen anything like this.” Musk later confirmed the explosion was caused by “very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck,” clarifying that it was unrelated to the vehicle itself. He added that the incident “is likely to be a terrorist attack” and raised the possibility of a connection to the New Orleans tragedy.

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. https://t.co/HRjb87YbaJ

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 1, 2025

Musk, a prominent supporter of Trump, has been actively involved in the president-elect’s campaign and is set to take on a new role in Trump's upcoming administration as the head of a newly-formed “department of government efficiency.” This decision has sparked concerns about potential conflicts of interest and national security issues due to Musk's global business ties.

Witnesses described the explosion, with Ana Bruce from Brazil recounting hearing three blasts: “The first one where we saw the fire, the second one, I guess, was the battery or something like that, and the third was the big one that smoked the entire area and was the moment when everyone was told to evacuate and stay away.”

Eric Trump, the son of the president-elect, also commented on the incident, praising the fire department and law enforcement for their “swift response and professionalism.”

The Trump International Hotel Las Vegas, located just off the famed Strip, was the site of the explosion. It is worth noting that authorities continue to investigate the cause of the fire, but no official statement has been released yet.

  • Tesla
  • Las Vegas
  • Tesla cybertruck
  • Elon Musk
  • Donald Trump

Most Read

Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl

The Life of a No-Girl: The one verse Taylor Swift refuses to sing

  • Arts and Culture
  • 8 Oct 2025
Ceasefire in Gaza takes effect amid conflicting signals and bombings

Gaza ceasefire takes effect; 'Israel' resumes bombing, timing disputed

  • Politics
  • 9 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Freed Palestinian prisoners carry rifles as they arrive in the Gaza Strip following their release from Israeli jails, outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, October 13, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian resistance remains steadfast, victorious Larijani says

Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Laffan inspecting the command structure of the 10th Infantry Brigade in Kfarskhna-Zgharta on October 13, 2025. (Lebanonese Army)
Politics

Lebanese Army chief: Israeli aggression threatens Lebanon's security

Hamas fighters escort buses carrying freed Palestinian prisoners arriving in the Gaza Strip after their release from Israeli jails, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, October 13, 2025 (AP)
Politics

154 Palestinian prisoners exiled to Egypt under exchange deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives before US President Donald Trump addresses the Knesset, Israel's parliament, Monday, October 13, 2025 in Occupied Al-Quds. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
Politics

Netanyahu withdraws from Sharm el-Sheikh summit amid regional pushback

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS