The recent news of extremists claiming responsibility for the halt in construction of Tesla's Berlin factory has sparked outrage and concern among both supporters and critics of the electric car company. The extremist group, which has not been identified, reportedly sent a threatening message to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, warning him to cease operations in Germany or face further disruptions.
This act of sabotage is not only a threat to Tesla's business operations but also a dangerous display of extremism that should be condemned by all. It is unacceptable for any group or individual to resort to violence or intimidation in order to push their agenda.
The halt was due to a fire, suspected of being arson, in an area near the Tesla’s Berlin factory. Left-wing extremists called the Volcano Group claimed responsibility, citing the damage from “killer cars and monster trucks.”
Tesla’s factory has not been damaged, the police said. Police said they have launched an investigation into suspected arson. Tesla said none of its employees were injured in what it called a reckless attack.
The company says car-making is unlikely to resume before next week, with the outage likely to cost it "in the high nine-digit euro range."
Tesla wants to double the size of its German factory - a plan which is opposed by some environmentalists.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Musk used the German phrase "extrem dumm" - extremely stupid - to describe the targeting of the site.
"These are either the dumbest eco-terrorists on Earth or they're puppets of those who don't have good environmental goals," he wrote.
In a letter published online, activists calling themselves the Volcano Group said they sabotaged production.
An electricity pylon close to the plant caught fire, causing power outages in the factory and nearby towns.
Electricity was restored after a few hours in the nearby towns and villages, but Tesla remained without energy and authorities said it would likely take several days to restore it at the plant.
Tesla opened the factory in March 2022, launching a challenge to German automakers on their home turf.
The company wants to expand the facility to add a freight depot, warehouses and a company kindergarten. Those plans would entail felling more than 100 hectares (247 acres) of forest.
The incident is just the latest in a series of challenges for Tesla, which has faced a backlash from trade unions seeking collective bargaining agreements for workers in the Nordic countries as well as supply chain issues, due to Houthi rebel attacks on shipping in the Red Sea which earlier this year forced it to halt production for a fortnight.
Police said they had launched a criminal investigation into the fire and were checking the authenticity of the letter, which had been signed Água De Pau, the name of a volcanic mountain in the Azores.
In 2021, the Vulkan group claimed responsibility for an arson attack on a transmitter tower at the then building site of the Tesla factory, accusing the company of being “neither ecological nor socially just”.
Read more
Rooster Teeth was Shut Down After 21 Years Microsoft Partners with Mistral AI
Sarah H
Also on site :
- Utah woman says her close friend is way too touchy with her husband. The young mom needs to know: Is their relationship too friendly?
- Jonathan Pryce: ‘When I look in the mirror, I don’t see an old person’
- How Nicki Minaj went from Queen of Rap to Trump cheerleader