Power supply to Tesla's factory near Berlin was disrupted after an arson attack on a high-voltage electricity pylon nearby, according to a German official on Tuesday.
Michael Stuebgen, the interior minister for the state of Brandenburg, expressed concern over the incident, stating, "If the initial findings are confirmed, this is a perfidious attack on our electricity infrastructure. This will have consequences."
Power supply to the Tesla plant and nearby villages was shut off, according to him.
The factory was evacuated and workers were sent home, as reported by German public broadcaster ZDF. It is still uncertain when production will resume. Tesla (TSLA) has not yet responded to CNN's request for comment.
The carmaker's main plant is situated around 30 kilometers southeast of the German capital. It is the company's sole facility in Europe and has the capacity to manufacture 375,000 electric cars annually.
According to a German official, unknown individuals intentionally ignited the pylon in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Thousands of people are now without their essential resources and are facing danger. The authorities have emphasized that they will respond to this act of sabotage with the highest level of seriousness. A criminal investigation has already been initiated to look into the incident.
There is uncertainty surrounding whether the arson attack is linked to the protests against the proposed expansion of the Tesla factory. According to ZDF reports on Tuesday, approximately 80-100 environmental activists have been occupying a section of a forest near the plant since Thursday. Tesla intends to clear this area for their expansion plans.
Stuebgen advised against jumping to conclusions about the perpetrators until more information is known.
Elon Musk's company applied last year to increase the factory's production capacity to 1 million electric vehicles annually, potentially making it the largest car plant in Europe.
But in February, local residents voted against a motion to clear enough forest for Tesla to expand the site, leaving it to local authorities to decide how to proceed, according to Reuters.
Editor's P/S:
The arson attack on the high-voltage electricity pylon near Tesla's factory near Berlin is a deeply concerning act of sabotage that has disrupted power supply to both the factory and nearby villages. The potential consequences of this attack are severe, as it could hinder the production of electric vehicles and leave thousands of people without essential resources. The authorities have rightly responded with the highest level of seriousness and initiated a criminal investigation. It is crucial that those responsible are brought to justice and that measures are taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The uncertainty surrounding the motive behind the attack also raises concerns. While it is possible that the arson is linked to protests against the proposed expansion of the Tesla factory, it is essential to avoid jumping to conclusions until more information is available. The authorities must thoroughly investigate all potential motives and ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.
