The alleged Cybertruck bomber has been named as US Army veteran Matthew Livelsberger – with authorities investigating a “possible military connection” to the New Orleans terror attack, which killed at least 15 people.

Livelsberger, 37, reportedly served at the same base as New Orleans terror suspect Shamsud Din Jabbar, who killed 15 people and injured dozens more in a rampage in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Separately, fireworks mortars and camp fuel canisters were found stuffed into the back of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel early Wednesday, killing Livelsberger inside the vehicle and sparking an intense investigation into possible terrorism.

Livelsberger is believed to have died in the explosion, according to sources.

Police have yet to confirm the identity of the deceased individual officially.

Seven people sustained injuries, Las Vegas County Sheriff Kevin McMahill stated during a news conference on Wednesday. Two injured were taken to the University Medical Centre Southern Nevada for treatment.

All injuries are minor, according to the sheriff.

The suspect is thought to have hired the silver Tesla Cybertruck in Colorado through the car-sharing company Turo.

By late Wednesday afternoon, authorities were still working to get the body out of the vehicle and start processing the evidence inside.

President Joe Biden was briefed on the explosion.

Jeremy Schwartz, acting special agent in charge for the FBI’s Las Vegas office, said: “Our number one goal is to ensure that we have the proper identification of the subject involved in this incident.

“Following that, our second objective is to determine whether this was an act of terrorism or not.”

Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said authorities know who rented the truck with the Turo app in Colorado, but are not releasing the name until investigators determine if it is the same person who died.

McMahill said video captured at Telsa charging stations provided by CEO Elon Musk helped authorities track the vehicle’s journey, arriving in Las Vegas about 7.30am then driving about an hour later into the valet area of the Trump International Hotel, where it sat 15 to 20 seconds before the explosion occurred.

Video presented at an afternoon news conference showed a tumble of charred fireworks mortars, cannisters and other explosive devices crowded into the back of the pickup.

The truck bed walls were intact because the blast shot straight up rather than to the sides.