Las Vegas police investigating suspected terror attack after driver rams into power station

The driver of the crashed car, 23-year-old Dawson Maloney, was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The police also discovered inside the car a variety of firearms, flamethrowers, ammunition and a crowbar, to which they are now treating the incident as terrorist event.

The power station, owned by the city of Los Angeles, is closely linked to the famous Hoover Dam.

Power generated at the plant is transferred to the Hoover Dam basin.

Boulder City police received a call about a car crashing through a secured gate at the LA Department of Water Power substation located on El Dorado Drive around 10am local time on Thursday, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Sheriff, Kevin McMahill confirmed.

Around 1pm local time, LVMPD was alerted and counterterrorism section responded, ABC 13 reports.

A video shows a Nissan Sentra with a New York number plate crashing through a gate outside the substation.

Sheriff McMahill confirmed in a press conference the car was stopped by large, industrial wire reels.

Maloney, the driver of the car, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene, the authorities confirm.

Investigators believe he had shot himself after crashing into the wired fence.

The driver was also wearing soft body armour, Sheriff McMahill said.

A search of the Nissan revealed at least three guns, ammunition, two devices described as flamethrowers, a hatchet, a crowbar, and a cellphone that McMahill said is being analysed.

He said: "These findings significantly elevate the seriousness of this incident."

Local police said there was no significant damage to the infrastructure of the facility and no service interruptions.

The 23-year-old was recently reported missing from New York.

Officials said he spoke to his family before the attack - and made several references to self-harm and carrying out an act that would place him "on the news".

He is said to have referred to himself as a "dead terrorist son" to his mother, and said he felt he "had an obligation to carry out his act".

Anyone who is in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide can call the Samaritans anonymously for free from a UK phone on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.