In a shocking incident on New Year's Day, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, resulting in the death of its driver, Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old active-duty Army soldier, and injuries to seven others. Authorities recovered firework mortars, gasoline canisters, and camp fuel canisters from the vehicle, which is prompting investigations into a potential act of terrorism. The incident has drawn connections to a separate truck attack in New Orleans that killed 15 people earlier the same day. The FBI is keenly examining whether these two incidents are linked.

The Las Vegas explosion occurred around 8:40 AM after Livelsberger rented the Cybertruck via the Turo app in Colorado and drove it to Las Vegas. He arrived in the city approximately an hour before the blast, where the vehicle was briefly parked in front of the hotel for about 15 to 20 seconds prior to the explosion [India Times].

Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, confirmed that the explosion was not related to the vehicle itself, stating, "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" [Newsweek]. He added that the vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion.

Investigators also discovered that Livelsberger had links to the military similar to Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the suspect in the New Orleans attack [USA Today]. Both men had served in the military, and the vehicles involved in both attacks were rented from Turo. President Joe Biden has confirmed that authorities are actively seeking to determine any link between the two incidents [NPR].

Las Vegas Police Sheriff Kevin McMahill asserted that authorities believe the explosion was an isolated incident, stating, "We believe everything is safe now" [SFGate]. The hotel has seen heightened security due to its association with Trump, influencing the investigation's focus on political implications.

As the investigation unfolds, the FBI continues to examine all evidence and leads, ensuring no further threats to the community exist while scrutinizing the events of both attacks. Additional updates and details are expected as the investigation progresses.

For more detailed updates, please visit the original sources of the articles mentioned: ABC News, The Guardian, The Hill, and more.