ELON Musk has claimed his futuristic Cybertruck thwarted the “evil knuckleheads” who blew up the car outside Donald Trump’s hotel in a suspected terror attack.
The Tesla boss said the truck funnelled flames away from the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas and “contained the explosion” that killed one person and injured seven others.
X/@clashreportThe Tesla Cybertruck blew up outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas[/caption]
ReutersFlames rise from a Tesla Cybertruck after it exploded outside the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas, in Las Vegas, Nevada[/caption]
Fox 13Explosives can be seen inside the Cybertruck’s charred wreckage[/caption]
Shocking footage caught the moment the blast occurred outside the glass entrance of the hotel just before 9am on New Year’s Day.
The Cybertruck was ripped apart by the huge explosion that sent its’ metal paneling flying.
Shattered glass was thrown across the entrance of the hotel with seven others injured.
Inside the truck were fireworks, gas tanks, and camping fuel connected to a detonation system controlled by the driver, CNN reports.
It was reduced to a blazing wreck that continued to burn for some time.
The explosion came just hours after a suspected terrorist rammed a truck into a crowd celebrating New Year in New Orleans, killing 15 and wounding dozens of people.
Cops are probing whether the deadly explosion was an “act of terror” after the truck pulled up to the hotel in Nevada and blew up.
Billionaire Musk, who owns Tesla, said his capable truck helped to contain the deadly explosion.
He said on X, formerly Twitter: “The evil knuckleheads picked the wrong vehicle for a terrorist attack.
“Cybertruck actually contained the explosion and directed the blast upwards. Not even the glass doors of the lobby were broken.”
Musk added the explosion was caused by “very large fireworks and/or a bomb” and was “unrelated to the vehicle itself”.
The suspected bomber has been identified as US Army veteran Matthew Livelsberger who reportedly served at the same army base as the New Orleans suspect.
However, investigators have yet to confirm any potential relationship or connections between the two suspects.
Meanwhile, the suspected terrorist who ploughed his pickup truck into the revellers was killed by cops after he got out of his truck and started shooting at them.
Cops have now identified the suspect as US Army veteran Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, 42.
Police found an ISIS flag on the back of his truck and they’re now searching for associates of the suspect who may have helped him in the terror plot.
It’s believed he may have had help from four or five other people.
Both the Cybertruck that exploded and the pickup truck used in the New Orleans terror attack were reportedly rented through the Turo car-sharing app.
Firefighters working at the scene
ReutersThe remains of a Tesla Cybertruck that burned at the entrance of Trump Tower[/caption]
X/@clashreport
Shattered glass and metal could be seen flying following the blast[/caption]
XTerrifying footage from the lobby of Trump International Hotel shows the Tesla on fire after the blast[/caption]
New Orleans massacre
At least 15 people were killed early on New Year’s Day in Louisiana when Jabbar ploughed his white pickup into revellers on the famed Bourbon Street before opening fire.
When the truck stopped and the suspect got out, three officers fired at and killed him.
Other cops working at the New Year celebrations bravely ran towards the gunfire while revellers desperately sprinted away.
Video posted to social media showed the white truck driving with traffic before sharply turning right and speeding past police.
Jabbar reportedly drove onto a sidewalk to avoid a cop car blocking the road, bollards, and officers who were there protecting the public.
Police superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the Jabbar drove the pick-up truck down Bourbon Street “at a very fast pace” and was “intentionally trying to run over as many people as he possibly could”.
The death toll sat at 10 for most of Wednesday but rose to 15 after an update from New Orleans Coroner Dr. Dwight McKenna.
The identities of victims have begun to emerge following the tragedy with Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux named by her grieving mother.
Melissa Dedeaux said her 18-year-old daughter “was the sweetest person. She would give you anything, anything,” Nola reports.
Other victims have been named as dad-of-two Reggie Hunter, 37, and football player Tiger Bech, 27.
The picture shows a white pickup truck that rammed into revellers killing 15 people
New Orleans suspect Shamsud Din Jabbar pictured in his US Army uniform
The pickup truck appeared to have crashed into a small crane
Meanwhile, pipe bombs were reportedly found inside the car concealed within coolers and were wired for remote detonation, a state police intelligence bulletin obtained by AP said.
The remote that controlled two of the bombs was also found inside the suspect’s tract along with two mason jars with explosives.
The FBI said the 3am attack is being investigated as an “act of terrorism” and they are investigating Jabbar’s “associations and affiliations”.
An ISIS flag also appeared to be attached to a pole on the back of the truck, a Ford F150 Lightning, and was covered by a jacket following the attack.
Meanwhile, a chilling series of videos made by the suspected New Orleans truck driver has now been uncovered.
The army vet is said to have filmed several short clips while driving around late at night where he allegedly spoke about joining ISIS and killing his family.
Authorities say the videos were made by a person travelling from Texas to Louisiana but are yet to confirm if Jabbar is the person talking.
But he did own a property registered in Sugar Land, Texas, details have since been revealed.
Jabbar had only converted to Islam within the last year and was “being all crazy” the new husband of his ex-wife said, the New York Times reports.
The suspect also had two daughters who have been left a “mess” after the attack.
Bourbon Street – a well-known nightlife and tourist spot – has been shut down as cops continue to investigate.
APPolice mounted on horses in the area[/caption]
APA cordon remained in place on Wednesday[/caption]
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