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Tesla’s production at its German Gigafactory came to a halt after an act of sabotage caused a power outage, with a far-left group claiming responsibility for the attack on power lines.

Early Tuesday, emergency services responded to a fire at an electricity pylon near the Tesla plant in Brandenburg, leading to a power cut that affected the factory and nearby villages. The incident, under investigation by police as suspected arson, saw the Vulkangruppe (Volcano Group) asserting they aimed for a “biggest possible blackout of the Gigafactory,” citing environmental concerns and the impact on local water resources.

The group’s statement expressed solidarity with those opposed to Tesla’s environmental footprint, emphasizing their intent to disrupt the factory’s operations. Brandenburg’s interior minister, Michael Stuebgen, condemned the attack as “a perfidious attack on our electricity infrastructure,” noting that their actions put thousands of people in danger. While power was quickly restored to the surrounding area, Tesla’s facility faced a prolonged outage, with estimates suggesting several days needed for a complete restoration.

Tesla, which inaugurated the factory in March 2022, has faced opposition over its expansion plans, including a freight depot that will lead to deforestation. Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, criticized the attackers on X, labeling them as misguided environmentalists.