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Climate activists protesting a planned expansion of the electric car giant’s only European factory tried to enter the facility, but were prevented by police. Several people were injured in the clash, including three policemen, and the authorities arrested several people, reports the BBC.
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Gallery: Activists protest the expansion of the Tesla gigafactory Photo: Christian Mang /
Protesters have been camping in the forests of Grünheide in the state of Brandenburg since February, claiming that plans to double the size of Tesla’s factory are damaging the environment. On Friday, the activists closed a nearby highway and, according to the police, disrupted rail traffic by sitting on the tracks, and there was also a sit-in strike on a national highway near the factory.
Footage posted on social media showed hundreds of people, many wearing blue hats and holding blue flags, running towards the scene to try to get inside. One video, verified by the BBC, shows the protesters breaking through the police cordon and entering the factory area, located about 30 kilometers from the capital.
They can also be seen heading towards one of the outer buildings in the northeast corner of the Gigafactory area. The police confirmed that the protesters trying to enter the facility were prevented from doing so, and several people were detained.
Tesla said earlier this week that the site would be closed for the day due to the demonstration, and that workers would reportedly be able to work from home. Tesla CEO Elon Musk also said in a post on X that the group failed to break into the facility.
The facility, known as the Gigafactory, currently employs around 12,000 people and produces around 500,000 cars a year. Production had to be stopped briefly in March after a power outage due to a suspected arson attack. The Volcano Group, a far-left activist group, claimed responsibility.
(Cover photo: Activists protest the expansion of the Tesla gigafactory on May 10, 2024. Photo: Christian Mang / )
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