A Tesla Cybertruck burns in front of the Trump International Tower in Las Vegas on 1 January.
On Wednesday, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded in front of a hotel owned by Donald Trump in Las Vegas. The incident turned out to be a tragic act involving a veteran of the US Special Forces. According to the FBI, 34-year-old Matthew Alan Livesberger, who organised the explosion, committed suicide before the detonation.
Causes of the tragedy: political and personal trauma
According to FBI agent Spencer Evans, the suspect suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues. “This is a tragic case that demonstrates how the deep wounds of war can have fatal consequences,” Evans said.
Investigators found two messages on Lywelsberger’s phone that mentioned his political dissatisfaction. In them, the man wrote about “national problems, social conflicts and personal challenges”.
“I needed to clear my mind and free myself from the burden of the lives I had taken,” he explained in his notes.
Not a terrorist attack, but a wake-up call
In his message, the veteran noted that his actions were not a terrorist act, but an attempt to draw public attention:
“We, the United States, are the greatest country that has ever existed. But now we are sick and heading for decline. Americans only pay attention to shows and violence.”
Laiwelsberger also alluded to traumatic events he experienced during his service: “I had to free myself from the pain of losing my brothers in arms.”
Consequences of the explosion
The moment of the explosion was recorded by a surveillance camera. As a result of the incident, seven people were injured, their condition ranges from mild to moderate.
Local authorities and the FBI called on society to understand the extent of the problem of PTSD among veterans.
“This tragedy is a reminder of how important support and assistance is for survivors of war trauma,” said Las Vegas Sheriff Dory Coren.
An investigation is currently underway to fully restore the picture of events and find out whether there were any possible warnings about this tragedy.
