Cops Probe After Tesla Dealership in Rome Goes Up in Flames

Over a dozen Teslas were destroyed at a dealership near Rome Monday in what is being investigated as a possible act of arson. According to a statement from the Italian fire brigade, they arrived at the scene at around 4:30 a.m. in the neighborhood of Torre Angela. An AP reporter at the scene counted 16 cars burned in total, and the dealership building was also partially damaged. Italian news agencies have said that the cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed, though investigators aren’t ruling out arson. No injuries were reported. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been facing backlash from Americans and Europeans alike for his actions under the Trump administration, ranging from overseeing federal cuts to supporting far-right leaders in European nations, including Italy. This has landed his company in hot water, resulting in a consistent stream of vandalism against Tesla in both the U.S. and abroad. Within the past month, multiple Tesla vehicles were set on fire at a Las Vegas dealership and dozens more in France in an “anti-capitalist coordination to target Tesla.” Musk addressed the recent slew of vandalism at a town hall in Wisconsin Sunday, calling the targeted attacks “insane” and blaming the “violence and hatred” of the left. “They’re burning Teslas and shooting up dealerships and calling for the death of the president and me. I’m like, guys, you know this is insane, like they’re totally gone psycho,” Musk said, adding: “That’s somebody else’s car. Leave it alone.”