Niamh Shackleton
The FBI has launched a task force to tackle 'domestic terrorism' and people targeting Tesla.
There's been an increase in attacks on Tesla cars and dealerships of late following Elon Musk's, CEO of the car manufacturer, relationship with Donald Trump and the White House.
On March 18, a Tesla dealership in Las Vegas was vandalized and the vehicles outside the establishment were set alight.
As well as this, the word 'resist' was spray painted across the building.
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A more recent incident occurred yesterday (March 24), that saw 'incendiary devices' placed inside an Austin-based showroom.
Addressing the matter, Austin police said in a statement, as per The Independent: "When officers arrived on scene, they located suspicious devices, and called the APD Bomb Squad to investigate.
"The devices, which were determined to be incendiary, were taken into police custody without incident."
Elsewhere, FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement after the Texas incident: "The FBI has been investigating the increase in violent activity toward Tesla, and over the last few days, we have taken additional steps to crack down and coordinate our response."
"This is domestic terrorism," Patel added. "Those responsible will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice."
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With the hiked number of Tesla-related incidents in mind, the FBI has launched a task force to tackle the issue.
The agency will work alongside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to investigate anti-Tesla attacks.
Confirming this, FBI Assistant Director for Public Affairs Ben Williamson said on Twitter: "Can confirm: The FBI has launched a Task Force in conjunction with ATF to coordinate investigative activity and crack down on violent Tesla attacks. More to come."
According to The New York Post, the bureau has received reports of 48 instances so far this month related to Tesla vehicles, dealerships and charging stations.
They're reportedly investigating at least seven of these cases in conjunction with local law enforcement.
The task force's creation comes after Trump threatened to send those behind the Tesla attacks to El Salvador's worst prison.
The POTUS penned on TruthSocial on March 21: "I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20 year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla.
"Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions!"