Key Points:

• At least five Tesla vehicles were damaged, with two completely engulfed in flames at a Las Vegas facility.
• The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the violent attack, which utilizes Molotov cocktails and firearms.
• President Trump condemns the vandalism, labeling the suspects as "domestic terrorists."

In the early hours of Tuesday, March 18, Independent reported that at least five Tesla vehicles in Las Vegas were subjected to a severe attack that involved arson and gunfire. Authorities responded to multiple emergency calls around 2:45 AM at a Tesla Collision Center where they discovered two vehicles fully engulfed in flames and others shot into with a firearm. The suspect, described as wearing all black, reportedly used Molotov cocktails to initiate the fire and discharged at least three rounds into various vehicles, raising concerns about targeted violence against the company.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren stated that the attack was premeditated and that the investigation has since escalated to the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force due to its severity and implications of domestic terrorism. FBI Special Agent Spencer Evans emphasized the seriousness of such violent acts, labeling them unacceptable and promising rigorous prosecution.

In light of the escalation of protests and vandalism targeting Tesla facilities, President Donald Trump has publicly condemned these actions. While promoting Tesla at a recent event, he stated, “Those people are going to go through a big problem when we catch them,” positioning the attackers as “domestic terrorists” in connection with ongoing unrest surrounding CEO Elon Musk's corporate decisions and government involvement.

Elon Musk himself responded to the incident on social media, calling it an act of “terrorism” and condemning the violence against the company which has been aimed at protesting his cost-cutting measures and controversial policies implemented through the Department of Government Efficiency. As protests have surged both domestically and internationally against Tesla and Musk, the spotlight remains on the increasing violence in these demonstrations.

Further reports indicate that this is part of a broader trend where Tesla-related protests have been morphing into violent acts including incidents in various states such as Kansas and Oregon, complicating the public perception of the electric vehicle manufacturer. For detailed coverage of the earlier events leading up to this escalation, see more on Forbes.