Tesla pylon arson attack: Infrastructure as a target

On 5 March 2024, an arson attack was perpetrated on a pylon near the Tesla gigafactory in Grünheide, Bradenburg, Germany, by the left-wing environmentalist group known as Vulkangruppe (Volcano Group).

The fire on the high-voltage power pylon resulted in a power outage in the Oder-Spree district in eastern Brandenburg, as well as the suspension of operations at the Tesla factory, leading to workers being sent home. The incident also caused disruption to the operations of supermarket chain, Edeka’s logistics centre in Freienbrink.

The motive for the attack

In a 2,500-word letter, Vulkangruppe claimed responsibility for the attack, criticising the factory for its environmental impact. The group accused Tesla of depleting the earth’s resources, exploiting labour, and producing a significant number of vehicles on a weekly basis.

Additionally, the group raised allegations against Tesla regarding groundwater contamination and excessive water consumption, aligning with concerns previously expressed by local water authority officials in February of this year.

As a result of the incident, Tesla’s leadership disclosed damages amounting to hundreds of millions of euros, leading to the suspension of production for nearly a week. The news of the incident and the subsequent disruption to production caused a 2.8% decline in Tesla’s shares on the Frankfurt stock exchange.

Power infrastructure as a target

The recent incident has highlighted the vulnerability of multinational company production and the general power infrastructure in towns and cities, which can be easily targeted by small-scale environmentalist groups. The targeting of power infrastructure by these types of groups is certainly not new but may well be on the rise.

Vulkangruppe has shown a persistent grudge against the company, as evidenced by their previous targeting of the same Tesla factory in 2021, by setting fire to cables leading to the manufacturer’s construction site.

Similar actions by other groups in the last year include in December 2023, when far-left activists destroyed an electric box at the Vicat concrete factory in Saint-Egreve, France, to protest the environmental damage caused by the company.

More recently, on 29 February 2024, Antifa affiliates set objects on fire near train tracks, damaging the railway, between Castelnaudary and Toulouse over “neoliberal” policies and against the construction of the A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres, citing environmental concerns.

Both of these incidents not only have an impact on company operations, but general public infrastructure used by the masses.

The business impact

Pylons, being crucial components of infrastructure, are particularly vulnerable unless they are located within substations or attached to a company’s property. In the case of the targeted pylon, it was standing freely in an open field without any fencing, making it an easy target for attack.

The significant disruption caused by this attack raises concerns about the possibility of similar groups resorting to similar tactics in order to make their voices heard. This is especially relevant as environmental concerns regarding these large-scale manufacturers continue to escalate.

Given these incidents, it is imperative for businesses to thoroughly evaluate their vulnerability, taking into account their dependence on unprotected power infrastructure. It is crucial to develop comprehensive risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans to effectively address the potential occurrence of similar incidents in the future.