Elon Musk has broken his silence after a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside Trump International Hotel, killing one person and injuring seven others.
The Tesla owner wrote on X: “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.”
Disturbing video circulating on social media shows the enormous blast during daytime in a popular area of the Strip.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud “boom boom boom” noise and a “massive explosion” of a Cybertruck near the Las Vegas hotel.
Emergency responders were seen in local footage rushing to the site by the 64-story luxury building in the heart of the Strip.
An official told ABC News the Tesla was loaded with fireworks-style mortars and says it is a possible terror incident, though no conclusions have been made.
If you can’t see the video, click here.
Large orange flames were seen flickering out of the windows of a Cybertruck in the video outside the revolving doors in front of the hotel.
The top of the car appeared to blow up afterward following massive explosion sounds.
A witness who captured the event said: “I just heard a boom. There’s a lot of smoke. It was like a boom, boom, boom. It almost sounded like a rolling garbage dumpster, then I saw that pop up.”
Others said: “”Some sort of explosion at Trump Tower in Las Vegas. No idea what happened yet.”
The Trump International Hotel commands the Las Vegas skyline as a 64-story edifice laden with condominiums on Fashion Show Drive in Paradise, Nevada.
President-elect Donald Trump is part owner of the property which stands a stone’s throw from the Wynn Hotel and is distinguished by its gold-tinted glass facade.
Since opening on March 31, 2008, the tower boasts 1,282 units and two eateries. Rising to 622 feet (190 meters), it reigns as the tallest residential building in Las Vegas.
Police said the fire had been put out.