A group identifying themselves as the “Volcano group” has claimed responsibility for a suspected arson attack at Elon Musk’s Tesla car factory in Berlin, according to a 2,500-word open letter posted on the alternative media website Kontrapolis.
In the letter, the group referred to Tesla’s Gigafactory as a site known for “extreme conditions of exploitation” and stated that the attack was intended as a gift in honor of International Women’s Day on March 8th.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, responded to the group’s claims on social media platform X, labeling them as “either the dumbest eco-terrorists on Earth or puppets of those with questionable environmental goals.”
The incident occurred when a power pole caught fire at approximately 4:50 am, resulting in a complete loss of electricity at the factory located 30km outside of Berlin. The Oderland Regional Control Centre confirmed that nearby areas, including the city of Erkner and parts of southeast Berlin, were also affected by the power outage.
A tent belonging to eco-activists was discovered near the site of the attack. Tesla assured the Berliner Zeitung that they have implemented necessary measures to secure their production facilities.
While the authenticity of the letter has not been verified by local police, Brandenburg police have classified the incident as arson based on initial investigations, indicating that the fire did not start spontaneously.
Interior Minister for Brandenburg State, Michael Stuebgen, condemned the attack, stating that authorities will pursue those responsible “with the utmost severity.” Brandenburg’s Minister President described the incident as a “serious attack on our critical infrastructure.”
Activists have been occupying a forest area surrounding the factory since last Thursday, with local police tolerating the occupation until March 15th, under the condition that no fires are lit or rubbish left in the area.
While power has been restored to surrounding communities, it is expected to remain out at the factory site for several days. Tesla’s shares experienced a 4.5% decline on Tuesday, reflecting concerns over production delays as a result of the incident.
The Berlin factory, which has a capacity to produce up to 375,000 electric cars annually, has faced opposition from environmental groups regarding its expansion plans.
