Las Vegas Sun
(TNS)
Mar. 18—Someone apparently used Molotov cocktails to set two Tesla vehicles ablaze today at a company service center, where the word "resist" was spray-painted on a door, according to Metro Police.
At least three gunshots were also fired into different vehicles at the shop in the 6000 block of Badura Avenue, police said.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk posted on X, his social media platform, the word "terrorism" in response to incident, adding that "the left is the party of violence & hate."
There have been reports elsewhere of vandalism involving Tesla vehicles since Musk has taken a key role in President Donald Trump's administration in cutting government spending.
Spencer Evans, special agent in charge of the FBI's Las Vegas office, said "the investigation is still in its infancy," but the incident "certainly has the hallmarks of terrorism."
As a result of the incident, Metro has increased police presence at Tesla and Tesla-related locations around Las Vegas, Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren said.
"This was a targeted attack against the Tesla facility," Koren said at a news conference today. "We do believe that it is isolated at this time. We do not believe that there's any further threats to the general public."
In recent weeks, there has been a surge in vandalism at Tesla locations.
Two Cybertrucks were damaged today in what police believe was an intentional fire at a Kansas City dealership, according to media reports.
On Monday, cars at a California Tesla dealership were found with swastikas spray-painted on them, according to the San Diego Sheriff's Department.
"To those who might think that something like this is justifiable or potentially even admirable, we want to let you know it's a federal crime. We will come after you. We will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law," Evans said.
"This level of violence is insane and deeply wrong," Musk said in a longer social media post. " Tesla just makes electric cars and has done nothing to deserve these evil attacks."
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