Tesla has paused production and evacuated its only European car manufacturing plant after a suspected arson attack on a nearby electricity pylon caused widespread power cuts.
The US company told the Financial Times there had been “no attack on or fire at the factory”, which is situated in the Brandenburg region south-east of Berlin and produces 6,000 cars a week. A spokesperson added it was unclear when production would restart.
Vulkangruppe, an activist organisation that three years ago carried out sabotage attacks while Tesla was building the factory, on Tuesday claimed responsibility. “We sabotaged Tesla today,” the group said, according to German news agency DPA.