AG Pam Bondi declares Tesla attacks 'domestic terrorism,' pledges 'severe consequences' for those involved

Following a rash of attacks on Tesla vehicles, dealerships, service centers and charging stations across the US, Attorney General Pam Bondi released a statement Tuesday evening declaring the attacks “domestic terrorism,” and pledged “severe consequences” for those involved, “including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes."

Bondi wrote in a statement, "The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism. The Department of Justice has already charged several perpetrators with that in mind, including in cases that involve charges with five-year mandatory minimum sentences. We will continue investigations that impose severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes."

Early Tuesday morning, multiple vehicles at a Tesla service center in Las Vegas were set on fire. According to the FBI, five vehicles were damaged in the arson attack.

On Tuesday, FBI Las Vegas Special Agent in Charge Spencer Evans told reporters that the attack "certainly has some of the hallmarks" of a terrorist attack, but that it was too early to say for sure and that the agency’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating.

He added, "Violent acts like this are unacceptable regardless of where they occur. And specifically, to those who might think that something like this is justifiable or potentially even admirable, we want to let you know that it’s a federal crime. We will come after you, we will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law."

Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk shared Bondi’s statement on X, and called the incident in Las Vegas, "insane and deeply wrong." He later called the incident "terrorism." At approximately 2:45 am on Tuesday, Las Vegas police responded to 911 calls about fires at the Tesla service station and found vehicles that were "engulfed in flames."

Las Vegas Metropolitan PD Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren said, "The suspect approached the business wearing all black clothing and he used what appear to be Molotov cocktails and a firearm to conduct his attack." Koren added that officers found an "unignited Molotov cocktail" at the scene, and evidence that the suspect fired "at least three rounds into different" Teslas.

Federal authorities are also investigating incidents across the US, including two Tesla Cybertrucks that were set on fire in Kansas City, Mo, and the targeting of a Tesla dealership in San Diego by vandals who spraypainted antisemitic symbols and profanity on the building and at least one vehicle.