FBI Forms Special Task Force on Tesla Threats as Vandalism Incidents Surge to Over 80

The FBI said Monday it has established a task force to investigate dozens of attacks against Tesla in recent weeks.

This task force has been working in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; hours earlier, a bomb squad discovered multiple incendiary devices at the Tesla exhibition hall in Austin, Texas, near Tesla's headquarters in Austin.

The incident is the latest in a series of attacks and vandalism targeting Tesla assets related to CEO Musk's DOGE team.

DOGE, or the Department of Government Efficiency, is undertaking a comprehensive effort to significantly reduce federal government spending and personnel.

There have been at least 80 incidents of Tesla cars being damaged or arsonally attacked in the United States and Canada since protests at Tesla's retail store in Los Angeles.

"The FBI has been investigating the increasing violent activity targeting Tesla, and over the past few days we have taken additional measures to combat and coordinate our response," FBI Director Kash Patel said on Monday.

"This is domestic terrorism," Patel wrote in the tweet. "The perpetrators will be hunted down, caught, and brought to justice."

When asked what measures the company is taking to protect its facilities, Tesla's Vice President of Environment, Health and Safety, Laurie Shelby, did not immediately respond.

Musk mentioned a series of acts of vandalism targeting Tesla vehicles and facilities at a Tesla event on Thursday.

"If you read the news, it feels like the world is about to end."

The CEO said that anyone who burns a Tesla vehicle is a "nut case" and should "stop being a nut case!"