A far-left activist group has claimed responsibility for a
suspected arson attack which saw Tesla halt production at its Berlin carfactory on Tuesday.
In a letter published online, activists calling themselves
the Volcano Group say they sabotaged production.
An electricity pylon close to the plant caught fire, causing
power outages in the factory and nearby towns.
Tesla said workers had been sent home but its building was
in a "safe state".
The fire did not reach the electric car-maker's factory
itself but did burn an electricity pylon and high-voltage wires.
In its letter claiming responsibility for the attack, the
Volcano Group said it sabotaged Tesla because it ate up resources and labour.
It also accused Tesla of contaminating groundwater and using
huge amounts of drinking water.
The Reuters news agency has reported that state police are
checking the authenticity of the letter.
"The rule of law will react to such an act of sabotage
with the utmost severity," said Interior Minister for Brandenburg state
Michael Stuebgen after the attack took place on Tuesday morning.
Controversial expansion
Tesla wants to double the size of its Berlin plant - which
is its only one in Europe - a plan which some environmentalists object to
because it would involve chopping down nearby trees.
Around 100 people are camping in a forest near the factory,
protesting against its expansion.
However those green activists have distanced themselves from
what has happened.
One group, which calls itself Robin Wood, told the it
had "nothing to do with the fire".
The Tesla factory currently makes around 500,000 cars a year
- the Elon Musk-owned company wants to double that.
"We are currently unable to say when production can be
expected to resume," Tesla said in a statement given to the AFP news
agency.
