Las Vegas police arrest a suspect in a Tesla center vandalism attack
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The attack targeted a Tesla service center in Las Vegas, damaging five vehicles, two of which were engulfed in fire.
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A member of the Seattle Fire Department inspects a burned Tesla Cybertruck at a Tesla lot in Seattle, on Monday, March 10, 2025 (AP)
The Las Vegas police have arrested a man suspected of conducting a vandalism attack targeting a Tesla service center using Molotov cocktails.
Paul Hyon Kim, 36, currently held at the Clark County Detention Center, is facing multiple felony charges, including suspicion of arson along with destroying or injuring real or personal property, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The incident in Las Vegas, which occurred amid a series of high-profile attacks on Tesla dealerships, was linked to rising frustration over Elon Musk’s influential position within the Trump administration and efforts to weaken the US government. This was accompanied by large peaceful protests outside Tesla dealerships, a boycott campaign, and an increasing number of vandalism incidents.
Earlier this month, the Tesla site in Las Vegas became the scene of what the sheriff referred to as a “targeted attack,” as security cameras captured a person dressed in black throwing what appeared to be molotov cocktails into vehicles while also firing rounds of ammunition into the parked cars, creating a situation that raised serious concerns.
“Upon arrival, officers discovered several vehicles on fire, as well as the word ‘resist’ spraypainted on the front doors of the business,” assistant sheriff at the Las Vegas metropolitan police department said, adding that “At least five Tesla vehicles were damaged, to include at least two of which were engulfed in flames.”
Aside from targeted attacks in the United States, Tesla electric car sales in Europe have dropped 49% in January and February compared to the same period in 2024, according to a ACEA manufacturers’ association report published on March 25.
The decline, partly linked to Tesla’s aging vehicle lineup, is also seen by industry analysts as a potential consequence of some electric vehicle buyers boycotting the brand due to Elon Musk’s strong backing of US President Donald Trump.
The slump in Tesla’s sales contrasts with an overall surge in electric vehicle demand across the EU. In the first two months of the year, total EV registrations rose 28.4% to 255,489, accounting for a 15.2% share of the market.
However, ACEA Director General Sigrid de Vries cautioned that “the latest new car registration figures confirm that market demand for battery electric vehicles remains below the level needed for the transition to zero-emission mobility to progress.”
