Las Vegas police investigate possible terrorism event after vehicle rammed into power substation

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Vegas police say they're investigating a car that rammed into a power substation as a possible “terrorism-related event.”

There's no ongoing threat to the public, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said said in a news conference Friday.

The driver of the vehicle was a 23-year-old man from Albany, New York, who was reported missing and is now dead, McMahill said.

The man had communicated with family prior to the crash, referencing self-harm and said he was going to commit an act that would place him on the news. He referred to himself as a terrorist in a message sent to his mother, according to police.

Authorities found explosive materials and multiple books “related to extremist ideologies” in the suspect’s hotel room, McMahill said. The suspect was wearing what police described as “soft-body armor."

Boulder City is a historic town located approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast of Las Vegas and is home to the Hoover Dam, which is considered one of the country’s modern civil engineering wonders. The dam provides water to millions of people and generates an average of 4 billion kilowatt-hours of hydroelectric power each year for Nevada, Arizona, and California.

The power substation is owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.