Las Vegas: A Tesla service center in Las Vegas became the latest target in a wave of violent attacks on the electric vehicle manufacturer, as multiple cars were set on fire and shot at overnight. The FBI has launched an investigation, saying the incident bears some characteristics of terrorism.
Local law enforcement responded to reports of a fire at the Tesla facility early Tuesday morning. Surveillance footage captured a suspect, dressed in black, moving between vehicles while igniting them with Molotov cocktails. Authorities say at least five vehicles were damaged, and the perpetrator also fired multiple gunshots into separate cars. The word "RESIST" was spray-painted on the building’s entrance.
Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren confirmed the attack involved both arson and firearms, with the assailant discharging at least three rounds. The FBI’s Las Vegas office, which is leading the investigation, has not ruled out terrorism as a motive.
Spencer Evans, head of the FBI’s Las Vegas division, condemned the attack, warning that such violent acts are federal crimes with severe consequences.
“To anyone who believes this kind of attack is justifiable or even praiseworthy, understand that we will find you and hold you accountable,” he said.
The incident is part of a troubling pattern of attacks against Tesla properties and vehicles, both in the U.S. and internationally, particularly since Donald Trump’s return to the White House. After taking office, Trump appointed Tesla CEO Elon Musk to lead the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, which has been aggressively cutting federal spending.
Musk responded to the attack on his social media platform, X, calling it an act of "terrorism" and condemning the violence.
“This level of destruction is completely unjustified,” he wrote. “Tesla simply makes electric cars and does not deserve these kinds of attacks.”
President Trump also weighed in during an appearance on Fox News, stating he believed the attack constituted domestic terrorism.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi echoed those concerns, labeling the growing number of Tesla-related attacks as “acts of domestic terrorism” and vowing that authorities would pursue not only the direct perpetrators but also those funding or organizing such acts behind the scenes.
The assault on the Las Vegas service center is just one of several recent violent incidents targeting Tesla. In Germany, police are investigating the torching of four Tesla vehicles in Berlin, suggesting a possible political motive. The attack follows Musk’s public endorsement of the far-right Alternative for Germany party in the country’s general election.
In Canada, the Vancouver International Auto Show recently announced it would remove Tesla vehicles from the exhibition due to security concerns.
Meanwhile, Tesla has been struggling in the stock market, with its valuation plunging by 50% from its record high of $1.5 trillion in December. Amid these challenges, Trump recently purchased a Tesla himself, calling it a symbolic gesture of support for Musk, who he believes is being treated unfairly.
