Deadly Cybertruck blast outside Trump hotel was deliberate, police confirm

A rented Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day.

Driving the news: The detonation left the driver dead and seven others with minor injuries.

• Las Vegas police believe the explosion was caused by fireworks and gasoline canisters in the truck bed, which were set off by a device made by the driver.

• Authorities traced the pickup from Colorado using Tesla charging stations and license plate scanners.

• The explosion occurred at 8:40 AM PT, seconds after the truck pulled in front of the hotel. Fire crews extinguished the blaze within an hour.

Zooming in: Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed the explosion was unrelated to the vehicle on X, citing data retrieved remotely from the truck.

• Eric Trump, speaking on behalf of the Trump Organization, emphasized their guests' safety and praised first responders' efforts.

Zooming out: The event comes after a pickup plowed into a New Orleans crowd on the same day, killing at least 15.

• Due to the two events happening on the same day, the FBI and Las Vegas Metro Police are treating the explosion with heightened caution.

• The Trump International Hotel was evacuated while authorities searched for secondary devices.

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