News | International
16 Jan 2025 16:16
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > International

    What we know about the Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas

    Investigations continue into the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside US president-elect Donald Trump's Las Vegas hotel.


    Investigations continue into the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside US president-elect Donald Trump's Las Vegas hotel.

    One person died and seven others were injured in the incident.

    It occurred hours after a driver rammed a truck into a crowd on the iconic Bourbon Street in New Orleans, in what has since been classified as a terror attack.

    Here's what we know. 

    What happened?

    Surveillance video captured at a Tesla shows a driver passing the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas about an hour before the incident.

    It circled back near the end of that hour and stopped in front of the hotel.

    Moments later, a 2024 Tesla Cybertruck, which had been parked in the building's valet area for about 15 seconds, caught fire and exploded.

    Brazilian tourist Ana Bruce, who witnessed the incident, said she heard three explosions.

    "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," she told the Associated Press. 

    Emergency services said a person who was inside the truck died.

    Seven people who were nearby at the time of the explosion were injured and taken to hospital for treatment.

    A county spokesperson said in a statement that the fire was reported at about 8:40am local time.

    Las Vegas firefighters responded four minutes after the report and extinguished the fire.

    The hotel was evacuated after the incident and most visitors were moved to another hotel.

    What caused the explosion?

    At a press conference, Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Police Department said "gasoline canisters, camp fuel canisters and large firework mortars were found in the back of the vehicle". 

    Tesla chief executive Elon Musk said in a post to X the explosion was not related to the vehicle itself.

    "All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion," he wrote.

    Telemetry involves the automatic collection of data from remote sources, which is transmitted back to a central source so it can be analysed.

    What is a Cybertruck?

    A Cybertruck is an electric pick-up truck manufactured by Tesla.

    Its design concept was first introduced in November 2019 but has only been produced since 2023.

    Its features a body of flat, stainless-steel sheet panels.

    Tesla advertises the truck as being "durable" and Mr Musk has previously described it as "a futuristic battle tank". 

    Mr McMahill said its design limited the damage that occurred. 

    "It had most of the blast go up through the truck and out," he said. 

    "In fact, if you look on that video, you'll see that the front glass doors at the Trump Hotel were not even broken by that blast."

    Who was the driver? 

    Investigators have not yet identified the truck driver. 

    "Our number one goal is to ensure that we have the proper identification of the subject involved in this incident," said Jeremy Schwarz, the acting special agent in charge for the FBI's Las Vegas office. 

    "Following that, our second objective is to determine whether this was an act of terrorism or not." 

    The truck had been rented in Colorado through car-sharing company Turo. 

    Mr McMahill said while authorities knew who hired the vehicle, they would not release the name until investigators determined whether it was the same person who died.  

    A statement released by Turo said the company was not aware of "a criminal background that would have identified [the driver] as a security threat". 

    Is it linked to the terror attack in New Orleans?

    President Joe Biden said authorities were currently investigating whether there is any connection between the explosion and the terror attack in New Orleans.

    "Thus far there's nothing to report on that score at this time," he said in a press conference. 

    "I directed my team to make sure every resource, every resource is made available to federal, state and local law enforcement to complete the investigation in New Orleans quickly and to make sure there's no remaining threat to the American people."

    According to Mr McMahill, the Ford F-150 pick-up truck used to ram into a crowd on Bourbon Street was rented from the same company as the Cybertruck.

    He said officials were "investigating every aspect of this". 

    "Do I think it's a coincidence? I don't know. 

    "But what I can tell you is we're absolutely investigating any connectivity to what happened in New Orleans, as well as other attacks that have been occurring around the world. 

    "We're not ruling anything out yet."

    Mr McMahill suggested the location and vehicle used in the Las Vegas explosion could also indicate a political motive.

    "Obviously, a Cybertruck, the Trump Hotel, there's lots of questions that we have to answer as we move forward," he said.

    Mr Musk was a key backer of Mr Trump in his recent presidential campaign.

    The billionaire was named to co-lead a presidential advisory commission after he and the president-elect became close during the campaign.

    ABC/Reuters/AP

    © 2025 ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved

     Other International News
     16 Jan: What we know about the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas
     16 Jan: Israel and Hamas officials reach Gaza ceasefire deal
     16 Jan: Live updates: Joe Biden delivers final address as US president after Israel and Hamas agree to ceasefire
     16 Jan: Saving food in your fridge and freezer during a power outage
     16 Jan: From the classroom to war, how Australian Oscar Jenkins fought for Ukraine
     16 Jan: Vanuatu holds snap election as nation braces for costly post-earthquake reconstruction effort
     15 Jan: Possible deal for Gaza ceasefire and release of hostages at the 'closest point' yet, officials say
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    All Blacks loose forward Wallace Sititi's set to miss an extended period of rugby - after news he'll undergo surgery on a knee injury tomorrow More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    ‘AI agents’ promise to arrange your finances, do your taxes, book your holidays – and put us all at risk More...



     Today's News

    Rugby:
    All Blacks loose forward Wallace Sititi's set to miss an extended period of rugby - after news he'll undergo surgery on a knee injury tomorrow 16:07

    Business:
    ‘AI agents’ promise to arrange your finances, do your taxes, book your holidays – and put us all at risk 16:07

    Entertainment:
    Bad Bunny wants to "put his life at risk" in a WWE ring 16:05

    Entertainment:
    Taylor Swift's fans are stricken with an "emotional hangover" in the wake of the singer's global 'Eras Tour' ending 15:35

    Golf:
    A return to the professional golf tour for Ryan Fox as he tees off in the DP World Tour's Dubai Desert Classic this afternoon 15:27

    Law and Order:
    What we know about the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas 15:07

    Entertainment:
    Paris Hilton is planning to foster a dog given up during the LA wildfires 15:05

    Auckland:
    A crane barge is expected to recover a sunken fishing vessel in the Hauraki Gulf today 14:57

    Entertainment:
    Neil Gaiman has been hit by a new string of sexual assault allegations 14:35

    International:
    Israel and Hamas officials reach Gaza ceasefire deal 14:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd