Information
The Tesla Gigafactory in Grünheide near Berlin was evacuated following a significant power outage caused by an attack on the electricity grid. The left-wing extremist group known as the “Volcano Group” claimed responsibility for the sabotage, stating in a letter that they specifically targeted the carmaker’s electricity supply. The incident began with a fire at a high-voltage pylon between Steinfurt and Hartmannsdorf, prompting suspicions of arson. The Brandenburg Interior Minister Michael Stübgen condemned the attack as a “perfidious” assault on the electricity infrastructure.
The power outage not only affected the Tesla Gigafactory but also resulted in outages in various Berlin districts, impacting around 2,000 households. Despite taking measures to secure production facilities, Tesla, in consultation with the electricity provider EDIS, expressed uncertainty about a quick resumption of production. The incident occurred amid ongoing environmental protests against the factory’s expansion, with activists planning to occupy a nearby forest. Tesla’s expansion plans aim to double the plant’s capacity for battery production to 100 gigawatt hours and increase annual car output to one million vehicles, solidifying its position in the European market. The Gigafactory has faced challenges from the local community since its inception, including concerns about water usage and the rapid pace of construction, which officially opened in 2022.
Source: dpa, Reuters, DW
Assessment
This attack goes to show that despite the uptick in conflicts, there is still an underlying threat from left-wing terrorist cells. This is a significantly under-reported threat group, with the majority of focus being on Islamic or Right-wing groups, leaving room for left-leaning groups to plan and execute an attack such as this with ease. It is possible that this could be the first of a group of attacks against similar types of infrastructure. Additionally, it is also possible that this factory was targetted due to its owner being Elon Musk and the left’s issues with him regarding X and free speech.
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