The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched a new 10-person task force focused on investigating vandalism and other attacks targeting Tesla, according to a report by the New York Post. The task force is reportedly tracking “Tesla Takedown” protests scheduled for March 29th and looking into online groups promoting the attacks.
The FBI Director, Kash Patel, called the acts “domestic terrorism,” echoing comments made by Elon Musk and others in recent weeks. The move comes after a series of incidents, including vandalism and arson at Tesla locations.
However, unlike international terrorist groups, the US does not have a formal designation for domestic terrorist groups, raising concerns about potential surveillance and sharing of information with individuals accused of targeting Tesla. A report by Wired suggests that such a designation could grant law enforcement more authority to monitor protests and gather intelligence.
The investigation is ongoing, with police discovering multiple “incendiary devices” at a Tesla showroom in Austin, Texas. The FBI has also taken notice of online groups promoting the attacks, including a site dubbed “Dogeque.st” which appears to be run out of Sao Tome, an African country.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/635091/fbi-tesla-task-force-terrorism