Early in the New Year, a Cybertruck exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump's Las Vegas hotel. One suspect was killed inside the Tesla vehicle, and seven bystanders were injured. Officials have since launched a thorough investigation into possible terrorism.

Police have revealed details of the Cybertruck explosion

according to by the Associated Pressinvestigators found firework mortars and camp fuel canisters stuffed into the back of the Cybertruck. Officials from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Clark County Fire Department confirmed the number of people who passed out and were injured. However, as of Wednesday afternoon, authorities were still working to remove the body from the vehicle and begin processing the evidence inside.

Jeremy Schwartz, of the FBI's Las Vegas office, said the first goal was to properly identify the subject. The next priority then was to determine whether or not the explosion was an act of terrorism.

As of Wednesday afternoon, authorities know the identity of the person who rented the Cybertruck using the Turo app in Colorado. In a statement, Turo said it was working with authorities. However, local Sheriff Kevin McMahill said they will not release the name of the tenant until it is confirmed that he is the same person who died in the explosion.

"We do not believe that the renters involved in the Las Vegas ... attacks had any criminal records that would identify them as a security threat," the statement said.

Video released at an afternoon news conference showed a clatter of charred firework mortars, containers and other explosives in the back of the pickup. The truck's bed walls were intact, as the blast went straight up rather than sideways.

How Tesla CEO Elon Musk contributed to the investigation

Tesla CEO Elon Musk contributed to the investigation by sharing videos captured at the company's charging stations. McMehill said the footage helped authorities track the vehicle's journey and determine that it arrived in Las Vegas at 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 1. An hour later, the deceased victim drove the Cybertruck to the Trump International Hotel service station. It stayed for 15 to 20 seconds before exploding.

Musk clarified Wednesday afternoon that the explosion was not a malfunction of the Cybertruck. Earlier, he assured his followers that his senior team was investigating and that the company had "never seen anything like this".

“...We have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle. All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion," he wrote on X (formally Twitter).

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. https://t.co/HRjb87YbaJ

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 1, 2025

For context, Musk has recently become a member of Trump's inner circle. Neither Trump nor Musk were at their Las Vegas hotel early Wednesday. The two attended Trump's New Year's Eve party in Trump's South Florida home. Musk spent $250 million on the former president's campaign. He was at Trump's resort on election night and has been a frequent guest there. Trump has appointed Musk, the world's richest man, to lead a new effort to find ways to reduce the size and spending of government.

Why does this context matter? Well, Sheriff McMahill said they are looking into any connection.

"This is a Tesla truck, and we know Elon Musk is working with President-elect Trump, and it's Trump Tower," McMahill said when asked by reporters about possible political connections. "So clearly there are things to be concerned about and it's something we continue to look into."

Witness Ana Bruce, who was visiting Las Vegas from Brazil, said she heard three explosions. “The first time we saw the fire, the second, I think it was a battery or something like that, and the third was a big one that burned the whole area and the moment they told everyone to evacuate and move away. ".

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Associated Press writers Ty O'Neil, Anita Snow, Colleen Long, Zeke Miller and Michelle L. Price contributed to this report.