Fargo, N.D. – A suspected arson attack targeted a Tesla charging station in Fargo, North Dakota, early Friday morning. Firefighters responded to the incident at the Scheels parking lot on 45th Street South around 3:15 a.m., finding a small fire, burning wood chips, and a gas can near the charging stations. The incident resulted in all charging stations losing power, and officials notified the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives as part of the investigation. Police K9 units also assisted in the probe.
This incident is the latest in a string of Tesla-targeted vandalism across the US, including arson attacks in Las Vegas, Kansas City, and Chicago. The motives behind these attacks are unclear, but they come amid growing controversy surrounding Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration, where he heads the Department of Government Efficiency.
Similar incidents have led to three individuals being charged with arson-related crimes, with prosecutors alleging they used Molotov cocktails to target Tesla properties. The Justice Department has vowed to crack down on such attacks, labeling them as domestic terrorism.