Authorities are investigating a chilling possibility: two violent incidents on the same day, both involving vehicles rented from the car-sharing platform Turo, may be connected.
The Las Vegas explosion outside Trump hotel
In Las Vegas, a Tesla Cybertruck rented through Turo erupted into flames outside the Trump International Hotel Wednesday morning. The explosion, which left one person dead and seven others injured, is being treated as a possible act of terrorism. A video circulating online shows the Cybertruck engulfed in fire just seconds after stopping near the hotel’s entrance.
“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,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a statement.
Elon Musk, who also holds a government role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), described the incident as “unprecedented” and promised an in-depth investigation.
The New Orleans tragedy: Isis flag found
Hours earlier in New Orleans, a suspect identified as Shamsud Din Jabbar drove a Turo-rented EV pickup truck into a crowd of New Year revelers on Bourbon Road, killing 10 people and injuring dozens. Police later found an ISIS flag in the vehicle, sparking fears of a terror link.
The FBI has confirmed they are probing whether Jabbar had ties to ISIS or acted alone. “It is still unclear how the suspect obtained the truck,” an FBI spokesperson said, adding that investigations are ongoing.
A troubling connection
Las Vegas police are examining whether the same rental service used in both cases points to a coordinated plot. However, no concrete link between the two incidents has been established yet.
Speaking to reporters, Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill called the connection “an avenue we are aggressively pursuing.”
What is Turo?
Turo is a car rental marketplace that allows users to rent cars from “trusted hosts” across the United States, Canada, Australia, and France. According to the app’s description on Google Play, it is the “world’s largest car-sharing marketplace,” offering users an alternative to traditional rental car services.
The app touts itself as a way to “skip the rental car counter” and choose from an “extraordinary selection of vehicles shared by local hosts.” It also positions itself as an entrepreneurial opportunity, stating, “Entrepreneurs can take the wheel of their futures by becoming hosts and building car-sharing businesses on Turo.”
Eyewitness account
Galit Ventura Rozen, who was staying in a nearby hotel, described the scene as terrifying. “I looked out the window and saw a huge cloud of smoke rising from the Trump Hotel,” she said. “We didn’t know what was happening, but it felt like something big.”
Presidential response
President Joe Biden condemned the violence, saying, “There is no justification for violence of any kind, and we will not tolerate any attack on any of our nation’s communities.” He promised updates as investigations continue.
A chilling possibility
Law enforcement agencies in Nevada and Louisiana are investigating whether the two incidents are connected or coincidental. “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,” read a statement from Las Vegas authorities.
What we know so far
- Both vehicles involved in the incidents were rented through Turo.
- The Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion occurred outside the Trump International Hotel, killing one person and injuring seven.
- The
New Orleans attack involved an EV pickup truck and left 10 dead, with an ISIS flag found in the vehicle. - Authorities are investigating a potential link between the two incidents but have not confirmed a connection.
- Ongoing Investigation
- Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, are working to unravel whether the similarities between the two incidents point to a broader, coordinated threat. For now, the nation watches as investigators dig deeper into the devastating events of Wednesday.
