NewsTesla Factory Halts Production Following Power Outage from Suspected Arson

Tesla Factory Halts Production Following Power Outage from Suspected Arson

Tesla factory fire brigade checks a plant building at the Tesla Gigafactory in Gruenheide near Berlin, Germany, 05 March 2024. Tesla confirms that production at the Tesla Gigafactory in Gruenheide has been stopped due to a blackout. Brandenburg's Interior Minister Michael Stuebgen announced that, according to initial findings, 'unknown perpetrators had set fire to a high-voltage pylon'. The fire had damaged the high-voltage line to such an extent that the power supply to the neighbouring villages and the Tesla plant had failed. EPA/FILIP SINGER Dostawca: PAP/EPA.
Tesla factory fire brigade checks a plant building at the Tesla Gigafactory in Gruenheide near Berlin, Germany, 05 March 2024. Tesla confirms that production at the Tesla Gigafactory in Gruenheide has been stopped due to a blackout. Brandenburg's Interior Minister Michael Stuebgen announced that, according to initial findings, 'unknown perpetrators had set fire to a high-voltage pylon'. The fire had damaged the high-voltage line to such an extent that the power supply to the neighbouring villages and the Tesla plant had failed. EPA/FILIP SINGER Dostawca: PAP/EPA.
Images source: © PAP | PAP/EPA/FILIP SINGER

6:55 AM EST, March 5, 2024

As a result of the blackout, operations at the Tesla facility in Grünheide have been suspended, according to a spokesperson from the company. The site has also been evacuated for safety.

Earlier today, a fire erupted along the power line, leading to the outage. Moreover, parts of Berlin and the town of Erkner find themselves deprived of electricity.

Possible arson

Investigations are underway to ascertain if the fire was an act of arson. The Minister of the Interior for Brandenburg, Michael Stübgen, remarked that preliminary investigations suggest "unknown individuals intentionally ignited a high-voltage tower located between Steinfurt and Hartmannsdorf".

Stübgen condemned the act as "malicious arson" and vowed that those responsible would face consequences. "Thousands of people have been disconnected from vital services and exposed to danger," he stated.

According to "Bild", a loud explosion was heard before 5 AM (Eastern Time) in the area where the fire started. In close proximity, a hut used by an eco-activist was discovered, alongside a sign indicating the presence of buried explosives. Bomb disposal units were promptly dispatched to the scene.

Since Thursday, approximately 80-100 environmental activists have been encamped in a forest near the Tesla factory, opposing the company's plans to clear a section of the forest for expansion. The move by Elon Musk's firm has also faced resistance from many local residents of Grünheide.

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