Police block the realm after a car caught fireplace and exploded outdoors the foyer of President-elect Donald Trump’s lodge on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025.
Ty O’Neil/AP
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Ty O’Neil/AP
LAS VEGAS (AP) — One particular person died and 7 others had been injured Wednesday when a Tesla Cybertruck that gave the impression to be carrying fireworks caught fireplace and exploded outdoors President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas lodge, authorities mentioned.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and Clark County Hearth Division officers advised a information convention that an individual died contained in the futuristic-looking pickup truck they usually had been working to get the physique out. Seven individuals close by had minor accidents and a number of other had been taken to a hospital.
The fireplace within the valet space of the Trump Worldwide Lodge Las Vegas was reported at 8:40 a.m., a county spokeswoman mentioned in an announcement.
In accordance with a legislation enforcement official, the truck was rented through the Turo app and appeared to have a load of fireworks. The official spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to talk publicly.
A Turo spokesperson didn’t instantly reply to an emailed request for remark.
Legislation enforcement officers haven’t dominated out terrorism as a doable motive, an individual conversant in the matter mentioned. The particular person spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to publicly focus on particulars of the investigation.
“I do know you’ve quite a lot of questions,” Jeremy Schwartz, appearing particular agent in cost for the FBI’s Las Vegas workplace, advised reporters. “We do not have quite a lot of solutions.”
President Joe Biden was briefed on the explosion. The truck explosion got here hours after a driver rammed a truck right into a crowd in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter early on New Yr’s Day, killing at the least 10 individuals earlier than being shot to demise by police.
“The entire Tesla senior group is investigating this matter proper now,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote in an announcement on X, including: “We have by no means seen something like this.”
In Las Vegas, witness Ana Bruce, visiting from Brazil, mentioned she heard three explosions.
“The primary one the place we noticed the fireplace, the second, I assume, was the battery or one thing like that, and the third was the massive one which smoked your entire space and was the second when everybody was advised to evacuate and keep away,” Bruce mentioned.
Her journey companion, Alcides Antunes, confirmed video he took of flames lapping the edges of the silver-colored car.
The 64-story lodge is simply off the Las Vegas Strip and throughout the road from the Trend Present Las Vegas shopping center.
Eric Trump, a son of the president-elect and govt vice chairman of the Trump Group, posted concerning the fireplace on the social media platform X. He praised the fireplace division and native legislation enforcement “for his or her swift response and professionalism.”
