(NewsNation) — Ahead of a global day of action against Tesla, billionaire Elon Musk has vowed to go after people spreading what he calls anti-Tesla “propaganda.”
Federal and local agencies are on alert amid continuing protests and acts of vandalism against Tesla cars and property. The Trump administration has called the violence “domestic terrorism” and said it would prosecute offenders.
After an attack just over a week ago, Las Vegas police scoured social media and surveillance video to make an arrest just hours before the suspect boarded a plane out of town.
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Paul Kim, 36, has alleged ties to communist groups and is now in federal custody facing more than a dozen criminal charges, including arson, which carries a potential sentence of 20 years.
“There’s nothing courageous or noble about firebombing private property and terrorizing your local community,” said FBI agent Spencer Evans. “The self-righteous mob that’s cheering you on today to commit acts of violence on their behalf will leave you high and dry and forget about you tomorrow. At the end of the day, you and you alone will be held responsible and face the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence.”
In Texas, police were also quick to arrest a man who rammed his mini four-wheeler into multiple Teslas in Texarkana. Footage of the incidents shows that at least one of the vehicles was in sentry mode, which records videos of the car from multiple angles.
The 33-year-old suspect is also suspected of scratching a number of Teslas. He faces a felony count of criminal mischief.
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Sentry mode has become the norm for many drivers and dealerships amid the uptick of violence and vandalism. Tesla owners and dealers are on even higher alert with Saturday’s protests planned for 500 sites around the world.
Musk, in an interview on Fox News, claimed criminals are being fed what he calls propaganda from the “far Left,” blaming those who are speaking out against Tesla and his involvement with the Trump administration for inspiring the firebombings and vandalism.
“The president has made it clear: We’re going after them. The ones providing the money, the ones pushing the lies and propaganda. We’re going after them,” he said.
As for the Trump administration, the FBI has launched a task force to investigate the increase in attacks.
