A fire at a Tesla dealership in Rome has destroyed 17 cars.
Italy’s special police unit Digos is leading the investigation to determine whether the fire was set by anarchists.
The blaze was said to have broken out at 4.30am (local time) and the dealership was partially damaged, but nobody was injured.
Tesla's CEO Elon Musk - ally of United States President Donald Trump - commented on a post that made reference to the fire, calling it terrorism.
Leader of Italy’s right-wing League party and Deputy Prime Minister, Matteo Salvini took to X to defend Musk.
“Too much unjustified hatred against the Tesla car company,” he said.
“The season of hate and conflict must come to an end as soon as possible.
“My solidarity goes out to @elonmusk and to all the workers who have been threatened and attacked.”
This comes are Tesla has become the target of vandalism in response to Musk’s right-wing activism.
Musk is head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has seen Tesla sales take a nose dive since Trump’s inauguration. Musk’s net worth is also esteemed to have fallen 25% since then with many Tesla owners selling their cars.
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