Musk Reacts to Vegas Cybertruck Explosion: “Chose the Wrong Vehicle”
“The misguided individuals chose the wrong vehicle for their terrorist act,” stated the CEO of Tesla.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, remarked that the “misguided individuals” who orchestrated the Tesla Cybertruck explosion near President-elect Donald Trump’s hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday had “chosen the wrong vehicle,” as the truck minimized the impact.
The incident, which took place around 8:40 a.m. local time, resulted in the death of the driver and injuries to seven others, according to officials. Authorities noted that the design of the Cybertruck was effective in reducing the damage caused by the explosion.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill disclosed during a press conference on Wednesday that the Cybertruck contained fuel canisters, mortar fireworks, and gas canisters in its cargo bed.
“The fact it was a Cybertruck really reduced the damage inside the valet area, as most of the blast was directed upwards,” McMahill commented during the press briefing.
He added that surveillance footage revealed the glass doors of the Trump Hotel “were not even broken” after the explosion, with the vehicle parked directly in front of the Trump establishment.
During the press conference, Jeremy Schwartz, acting FBI special agent for Las Vegas, mentioned that the agency is determining whether the incident qualifies as “an act of terrorism.”
“I know there’s a lot of interest in categorizing this as a terrorist attack,” Schwartz said. “That’s our objective, and we are actively pursuing that.”
The explosion happened just hours after a man drove into crowds during New Year’s celebrations in New Orleans, resulting in at least 15 fatalities and many injuries. The FBI is investigating that event as a terrorist act, noting that the suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, had attached an ISIS flag to the truck’s hitch.
President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday evening that authorities are looking into potential connections between the Las Vegas incident and the suspected terrorist attack in New Orleans.
“All vehicle telemetry was normal at the time of the explosion,” he noted.
When the Cybertruck was introduced years ago, Musk claimed it could endure gunfire due to its construction from the same stainless steel alloy used in SpaceX rockets.
Trump has not yet commented on the explosion, which the FBI is treating as a possible terrorist event. His son Eric Trump did provide a statement regarding the situation.
“Earlier today, a report of an electric vehicle fire was noted in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas,” Eric Trump stated on X. “The safety and well-being of our guests and staff continue to be our primary focus.”