The FBI revealed that it has set up a task force to investigate the recent wave of thefts and fires that have happened at Tesla cars. The agency’s director calls such acts “domestic terrorism,” promising that those responsible will be pursued, caught and brought to justice.
The FBI said in a statement confirming the reporting of the task force, “Director [Kash] Patel has been unequivocally clear: The FBI will be relentless in its mission to protect the American people […] Acts of violence, vandalism, and domestic terrorism — like the recent Tesla attacks — will be pursued with the full force of the law.”
According to reports, the task force, consisting of 10 people, was created by the FBI’s counterterrorism division and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
The task force comes after weeks of violent protests against tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Tesla showrooms and charging stations. These protests have raised fears that political tensions could reach a peak because of anger over Musk’s plans to cut back on government spending.
FBI is looking to stop a protest scheduled for March 29th
The FBI is looking at video from security cameras and has gotten access to cell phone locations for some of the unsolved cases.
The FBI has been investigating the increase in violent activity toward Tesla, and over the last few days, we have taken additional steps to crack down and coordinate our response.
This is domestic terrorism. Those responsible will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice. https://t.co/U4VYh8XEve
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) March 24, 2025
Patel said, “The FBI has been investigating the increase in violent activity toward Tesla, and over the last few days, we have taken additional steps to crack down and coordinate our response.”
The bureau is also looking into an anarchist blog based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and a mass protest called “Tesla Takedown” that is set for March 29 and calls for 500 protests at Tesla showrooms and charging points.
In addition, the FBI found the website Dogeque.st, which has information doxxing Tesla workers and places across the country. The website is based in Sao Tome, an African country.
On the other hand, one of the organizers of the “Tesla Takedown” movement, Joan Donovan, said in a statement she is being “viciously threatened and doxxed” for participating in the public demonstrations.
She said, “Musk has developed his own private army of networked harassers, who are calling me a domestic terrorist for picketing Tesla in reaction to DOGE’s likely unconstitutional acts.”
Tesla damages so far
There have been at least 80 reported cases of vandalism or arson of Tesla vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. At least 10 Tesla dealerships, charging stations and facilities have been hit by vandals, many of whom have lit cars on fire.
Several cybertrucks have been damaged. For instance, a Tesla Cybertruck was set on fire in a storage lot in Seattle, Washington. Also, two Molotov cocktails were aimed at Cybertrucks in Kansas City, Missouri.
Several Tesla cars have been set on fire. For instance, two Molotov cocktails were used to set two Tesla cars on fire in Austin, Texas. Molotov cocktails were again used to shoot at and set fire to Tesla cars in Las Vegas, Nevada. In San Diego, California, people spray-painted “F–k Nazi Scum” and “F–k Nazis” on cars and a Tesla store.
The protestors have caused great damage to Tesla stores. There were shots fired at a Tesla store in Tigard, Oregon.
The charging stations were not spared. In Littleton, Massachusetts, seven Tesla charge stations were set on fire. In Seattle, Oregon, holes are made in a charging station. In addition, a power station was set on fire and had the words “BURN NAZI CAR KILL ELON” sprayed on it.
Meanwhile, Tesla drivers all over the country say they are being targeted. For instance, a Tesla owner in Wichita, Kansas, said that after dinner at a nearby restaurant on Thursday, she found deep scratches on her brand-new, bright red car. These damages are affecting Musk and Tesla’s customers.
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