The former special forces sergeant who drove the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel told an ex-girlfriend he “felt like Batman” in the days before the apparent suicide.

Matthew Livelsberger, 37, a highly decorated counter-terrorism Green Beret soldier, is thought to have killed himself seconds before his rented electric vehicle blew up on Jan 1.

Firework-style mortars, camping fuel and canisters were found in the car. Seven people sustained minor injuries from the explosion.

Kevin McMahill, the Clark County sheriff, said that the Tesla driver had “sustained a gunshot wound to the head prior to the detonation of the vehicle”. 

A handgun was found at Livelsberger’s feet and officials believe that the shot was self-inflicted.