AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department is investigating after incendiary devices were found inside a Tesla dealership showroom.
Police officers responded to a call at the dealership on North U.S. 183 just after 8 a.m. on March 24 and located what the department described as “suspicious devices,” the Austin American Statesman reports. According to a statement from APD, the Bomb Squad later confirmed the devices were incendiary and safely took them into custody without incident.
The discovery comes as Tesla showrooms and charging stations across the country have become the focus of increasingly frequent acts of vandalism and protest. Demonstrators have cited frustrations over Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s recent appointment to lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency — an initiative launched under President Donald Trump to streamline federal operations.
The discovery comes on the heels of a public safety alert issued by the FBI warning law enforcement and Tesla owners about a rise in arson, gunfire and vandalism targeting Tesla dealerships nationwide. The alert, released March 21, follows multiple incidents involving homemade explosives and firearms used in attacks on Tesla facilities.
Law enforcement agencies are treating the incidents with urgency.
President Donald Trump, speaking at a White House event on March 11, condemned recent attacks on Tesla dealerships and charging stations, calling the acts “domestic terrorism.” He issued a stern warning to those responsible: “We’re going to catch them... you’re going to go through hell.”
On March 20, Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced federal charges against three individuals accused of using Molotov cocktails to attack Tesla property:
- In Salem, Oregon, a man armed with a suppressed AR-15 was arrested after hurling approximately eight Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership.
- In Loveland, Colorado, another defendant attempted to set Teslas on fire using Molotov cocktails and was later found in possession of materials to build more incendiary weapons.
- A third suspect in Charleston, South Carolina allegedly wrote anti-Trump messages around Tesla charging stations before lighting them on fire.
Each defendant faces federal charges carrying a minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison.
“The days of committing crimes without consequence have ended,” Bondi said. “Let this be a warning: if you join this wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, the Department of Justice will put you behind bars.”
The Austin location where the devices were found has been a recurring site for demonstrations. Over the weekend, a group called ResistAustin held a peaceful protest outside the showroom as part of the national #TeslaTakedown campaign, which opposes Musk’s growing influence in government, FOX7 reported.
The investigation remains active, and no further information has been released at this time, police said.
