Current:Home > MarketsTesla's Giga Berlin plant in Germany shut down by suspected arson fire -VitalWealth Strategies
Tesla's Giga Berlin plant in Germany shut down by suspected arson fire
View
Date:2025-04-13 14:25:56
Berlin — Tesla's "gigafactory" near Berlin was evacuated Tuesday after a fire and major power outage that was being investigated as a suspected case of arson. Police in the state of Brandenburg said they were inspecting a letter the force had received claiming that a far-left environmental organization known as Vulkangruppe (Volcano Group) was responsible for the fire, but that it had yet to be authenticated.
With operations at the massive Tesla plant still suspended Wednesday, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told the daily newspaper Rheinische Post that "if a left-wing extremist motive is confirmed, then this is further proof that left-wing extremists do not even shy away from serious attacks on our energy infrastructure."
An area around the factory in Grünheide, about 30 miles east of Berlin, experienced power cuts from early Tuesday morning. Police said they were investigating the possibility of an arson attack after a fire damaged an electricity pylon in the area.
"If the initial findings are confirmed, this is a perfidious attack on our electricity infrastructure," said Brandenburg state Interior Minister Michael Stübgen. "This will have consequences. Thousands of people have been cut off from their basic supply and put in danger."
According to a statement released by the ministry, unknown perpetrators were believed to have set fire to the high-voltage pylon in the eastern part of the state in the early morning hours. The fire damaged the high-voltage line to such an extent that the power supply to the surrounding villages and Tesla's nearby Giga Berlin plant were cut, leading to the evacuation and complete halt in production at the U.S. automaker's only European factory.
Tesla founder Elon Musk ridiculed the apparent activist attack in a post on his social media platform X, even mocking them in German.
"These are either the dumbest eco-terrorists on Earth or they're puppets of those who don't have good environmental goals," Musk said in the post. "Stopping production of electric vehicles, rather than fossil fuel vehicles, ist extrem dumm."
Tesla said it did not expect production to resume this week, and it estimated the cost to its operations at several hundred million euros.
The Brandenburg State Office of Criminal Investigation confirmed that an investigation was launched.
The letter sent to the Brandenburg Police and attributed to the Volcano Group, which is considered a left-wing extremist organization in Germany, calls for the "complete destruction of Tesla's Gigafactory," according to local media reports.
Regional authorities did not immediately draw any connection with protests that have taken place recently around the Tesla factory.
Since Feb. 29, around 80 to 100 environmental activists have occupied part of a state forest in Brandenburg near the Tesla plant, which Elon Musk's company hopes to clear to expand its site.
"I warn against premature speculation," Stübgen said about any possible link.
- In:
- Tesla
- Elon Musk
- Arson
- Environment
- Fire
- Germany
Anna Noryskiewicz is a CBS News journalist based in Berlin, Germany, who covers politics, conflict and crime in Europe and beyond. Anna worked previously for a range of global outlets including BBC News, NPR and Al Jazeera. She speaks five languages, including Mandarin, German, Polish and Russian.
Twitter InstagramveryGood! (2)
Related
- Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
- A Mississippi company is sentenced for mislabeling cheap seafood as premium local fish
- 'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
- 'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
- Travis Hunter, the 2
Ranking
- Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- A Mississippi company is sentenced for mislabeling cheap seafood as premium local fish
- North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
- House passes bill to add 66 new federal judgeships, but prospects murky after Biden veto threat
- Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
- The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
- From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
Recommendation
Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
Euphoria's Hunter Schafer Says Ex Dominic Fike Cheated on Her Before Breakup
US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
House passes bill to add 66 new federal judgeships, but prospects murky after Biden veto threat
In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see