Despite President Trump's statement that 'the vandalism of Tesla cars is domestic terrorism,' arson attacks on Tesla cars continue, and the FBI's anti-terrorism unit is also investigating.
In the United States, there have been a series of reports of vandalism targeting electric car maker Tesla vehicles, and it has now become clear that the FBI's counterterrorism unit is finally investigating.
Teslas set on fire in Las Vegas; police say suspect still at large — VIDEO | Crime
Multiple Tesla vehicles were set on fire in Las Vegas and Kansas City | The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/news/632217/tesla-arson-dealership-vegas-kansas
Elon Musk, owner of multiple companies including Tesla , used his personal wealth to encourage voting in the 2024 US presidential election, helping to secure the victory of Donald Trump.
What kind of benefits will Elon Musk, who supported Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election, receive? - GIGAZINE
Musk, who made a significant contribution to the presidential election, is leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the Trump administration and has fired government employees one after another . As a result, dissatisfaction with Musk has grown in the United States, escalating into a protest called the ' Tesla Takedown.' The Tesla Takedown includes boycotting Tesla cars and acts of vandalism targeting Tesla cars.
In response, President Trump has voiced his support for Tesla and criticized the protests against it as 'domestic terrorism.'
President Trump calls Tesla protests 'domestic terrorism' - GIGAZINE
The vandalism targeting Tesla vehicles continued after that, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) reported that a fire broke out at the Tesla Collision Center in Las Vegas at around 2:45 a.m. on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. According to LVMPD, the fire at the Tesla Collision Center was revealed after multiple reports of 'a person dressed in black clothing setting multiple Tesla vehicles on fire.'
LVMPD Investigates Vehicle Fires at a Tesla Collision Center | Press Releases | Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
https://www.lvmpd.com/Home/Components/News/News/1814/263
According to LVMPD, by the time officers arrived on the scene, several vehicles were already engulfed in flames and the word 'RESIST' had been spray-painted on the wall of the Tesla Crash Center. Clark County Fire Department personnel were called in to extinguish the blaze.
According to an investigation by LVMPD counterterrorism investigators, an individual dressed in all black approached the Tesla Crash Center with an incendiary device. The individual reportedly used the device to set fire to multiple Tesla vehicles, with one device found inside the vehicle that had not yet detonated. The individual also reportedly fired at least three shots at the Tesla vehicles. According to LVMPD, five Tesla vehicles were damaged, two of which were completely engulfed in flames.
At a press conference on the Tesla Crash Center arson incident, Clark County Fire Department Deputy Chief Jennifer Wyatt reported that 'we were able to put out the fires in both Teslas before the batteries caught fire.' FBI Special Agent Spencer Evans said, 'While this incident was initially classified as arson, it is now being investigated by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force.'
Las Vegas news media outlet News 3 Las Vegas has posted a video on YouTube of the arson incident at the Tesla Crash Center.
NEW VIDEO shows Tesla vehicles set on fire in 'targeted attack,' police say - YouTube
In response to the arson attack, Musk wrote, 'This level of violence is insane and deeply wrong. Tesla just builds electric cars and has done nothing to deserve this evil attack.'
This level of violence is insane and deeply wrong.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 18, 2025
Tesla just makes electric cars and has done nothing to deserve these evil attacks. https://t.co/Fh1rcfsJPh
In response to the incident, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a statement saying, 'The series of violent attacks on Tesla facilities are nothing less than domestic terrorism. With that in mind, the Department of Justice has already prosecuted multiple perpetrators, including those carrying minimum sentences of five years in prison. We continue to investigate and seek to bring tough charges against those involved in these attacks, including those working behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes.'
Office of Public Affairs | Attorney General Bondi Statement on Violent Attacks Against Tesla Property | United States Department of Justice
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-bondi-statement-violent-attacks-against-tesla-property
In addition, Kansas City Police Chief Jacob Becchina announced that a Tesla vehicle had also been set on fire in Kansas City. According to Chief Becchina, a report was received of smoke coming from a Cybertruck parked in a parking lot at a Tesla facility. Police officers used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire, but were unable to put out the flames, so a fire engine had to be dispatched. According to Chief Becchina, the fire also spread to another Cybertruck parked next to the burning Cybertruck. At the time of writing, the incident is still under investigation, and it is unclear whether it was arson or not.
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