Explosion At Trump Hotel In Las Vegas: Police Investigate Possible Terrorism Links.
Police are delving into the circumstances surrounding a dramatic explosion that occurred when a Tesla Cybertruck, laden with fuel canisters and firework mortars, detonated outside the Trump Hotel on Las Vegas Boulevard. The blast, which took place at approximately 08:40 PT (15:40 GMT), resulted in the death of the driver and minor injuries to seven others.
The vehicle, which was rented in Colorado and had only arrived in Las Vegas earlier that morning, was parked directly in front of the hotel’s glass entrance. Witnesses reported that the truck began to emit smoke before it exploded, sending bursts of multicoloured fireworks into the air.
In response to the incident, President Joe Biden commented during an evening address that the White House was closely monitoring the situation. He highlighted that law enforcement was looking into any potential connections with a simultaneous attack in New Orleans, where 15 people were killed by a truck carrying an IS flag early on New Year’s Day.
Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department held an afternoon press conference where he displayed footage of the explosion and photographs of the aftermath. The images showed a chaotic scene with remnants of fuel canisters and firework mortars scattered around the severely damaged truck.
Investigators were seen using a black fire-retardant tarp to douse the residual flames, with the charred remains of the truck and an array of gas canisters left in its wake.
The police are considering various motives, including possible links to President-Elect Donald Trump, who owns the hotel, and Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla. “Obviously, a Cybertruck, the Trump Hotel, there’s lots of questions that we have to answer as we move forward,” Sheriff McMahill stated.
The FBI has also joined the investigation, exploring whether this could be classified as an act of terrorism. However, no definitive identity of the driver has been confirmed, nor has there been any evidence linking this incident to the Islamic State group, despite the similarities to the New Orleans attack.
FBI special agent Jeremy Schwartz emphasized the ongoing efforts to ascertain if this qualifies as a terrorist attack. “I know everybody’s interested in that word, and trying to see if we can say, ‘Hey, this is a terrorist attack.’ That is our goal, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” he stated.
Both vehicles involved in the Las Vegas and New Orleans incidents were reportedly rented via Turo, a car-sharing service. A Turo spokesperson confirmed their cooperation with the authorities, noting that neither of the renters had a criminal history that would flag them as security risks. “We are heartbroken by the violence perpetrated in New Orleans and Las Vegas, and our prayers are with the victims and families,” the spokesperson added.
Sheriff McMahill reassured the public that there was no ongoing threat to the Las Vegas community following the incident. However, the investigation continues with the authorities taking all necessary precautions to ensure safety.
