Tesla’s Gigafactory in Germany has temporarily ceased operations following an incident where electrical cables powering the facility were deliberately set on fire, an act of sabotage reportedly carried out by a far-left group. The incident, which took place near Berlin, led to a loss of electricity not only for the electric vehicle production site in Brandenburg but also affected the surrounding communities.
Emergency services were called to the scene early Tuesday after reports emerged of a burning electricity pylon in the vicinity of the Tesla factory. Despite the fire being extinguished, the damage to the power cables was significant enough to disrupt the power supply, prompting a police investigation into suspected arson.
Al Jazeera reported that the Vulkangruppe (Volcano Group), a known group of far-left activists, has claimed responsibility for this act of sabotage. In a statement, the group declared their objective was to cause “the biggest possible blackout of the Gigafactory,” citing concerns over the plant’s environmental impact and its consumption of local water resources. They voiced solidarity with those opposed to Tesla’s operations, stating, “We feel connected to all the people who won’t let Tesla turn the tap off.”
Reacting to the incident, Tesla CEO Elon Musk criticized the saboteurs on X, suggesting that targeting an electric vehicle manufacturer was counterproductive to environmental goals. Musk described the attackers as “either the dumbest eco-terrorists on Earth or they’re puppets of those who don’t have good environmental goals,” emphasizing the irony of their actions with, “Stopping production of electric vehicles, rather than fossil fuel vehicles, ist extrem dumm” — translating to “is extremely stupid.”
Brandenburg’s interior minister, Michael Stuebgen, labeled the arson as a “perfidious attack on our electricity infrastructure,” highlighting the danger and inconvenience posed to thousands of citizens. Stuebgen assured that the law would respond with severe measures against such acts of sabotage.
While power was restored to the affected towns and villages within a few hours, Tesla’s factory faced a more daunting challenge, with officials estimating a prolonged period before electricity could be reinstated at the site. This incident occurred amid ongoing protests against Tesla’s expansion in a nearby forest, where environmental activists have set up camps and treehouses in opposition.
The attack on Tesla’s Gigafactory underscores the complex challenges faced by green technology initiatives, navigating both ecological concerns and political activism. As the situation unfolds, the response from authorities and the impact on Tesla’s German operations will be closely monitored.
