A tragic incident occurred on Wednesday outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas when a Tesla (TSLA) Cybertruck exploded in flames, killing the driver and injuring seven others. The explosion, as seen in videos by witnesses, showed the vehicle engulfed in flames as it sat outside the hotel. Authorities are now investigating whether the blast was an act of terrorism. Elon Musk has since responded to the incident, expressing his condolences and pledging full cooperation with investigators as they work to determine the cause of the explosion.
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The Explosion Left Seven People Injured
The explosion occurred just hours after a separate attack in New Orleans, where a man drove a truck into New Year’s Day crowds, claiming 15 lives. The Las Vegas explosion claimed the life of the driver and left seven others with minor injuries. Sheriff McMahill noted that the Cybertruck, like the vehicle in the New Orleans attack, was rented through the car-sharing service Turo. As a precaution, the Trump Hotel was evacuated, and guests were relocated to nearby accommodations.
Musk Commented on the Incident
The Trump International Hotel, part of President-elect Donald Trump’s organization, became the unexpected site of chaos. Elon Musk, Tesla’s (TSLA) CEO and a key supporter of Trump’s 2024 campaign, also serves as an advisor to the President-elect.
Following the incident, Musk stated 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.”
Telemetry involves the collection of data from remote sources, transmitting it back to a central source. This data is analyzed at a later date.
FBI Is Investigating the Incident
Meanwhile, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill acknowledged the complexity of the case, noting the significance of the location and vehicle involved. FBI special agent Jeremy Schwartz stated that the FBI was still investigating whether the blast was a terrorist act.
Schwartz commented, “I know everybody’s interested in that word, and trying to see if we can say, ‘Hey, this is a terrorist attack.’ That is our goal, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
What Is the Prediction for Tesla Stock?
Analysts remain sidelined about TSLA stock, with a Hold consensus rating based on 13 Buys, 11 Holds, and nine Sells. Over the past year, TSLA has surged by more than 60%, and the average TSLA price target of $294.30 implies a downside potential of 27.1% from current levels.
