Suspect charged in targeted Tesla facility attack
Alona Yadav | Mar 28, 2025, 00:14 IST
( Image credit : AP )
Las Vegas police arrested Paul Hyon Kim for allegedly setting five Tesla vehicles on fire and spray-painting 'RESIST' at a local collision center. The incident, involving Molotov cocktails and discharged rounds, represents a surge in attacks on Tesla properties across the U.S.
Las Vegas police have arrested a 36-year-old man for allegedly setting fire to five Tesla vehicles and spray-painting a message of "RESIST" at a local collision center, marking a dramatic escalation of recent incidents targeting Tesla facilities across the United States.
Paul Hyon Kim was booked into the Clark County jail on Wednesday, facing 15 criminal counts including suspicion of arson, property destruction, and firearm-related offenses. The attack occurred on March 18 at approximately 2:45 a.m. at the Tesla Collision Center in Las Vegas.
Surveillance footage captured the suspect, dressed entirely in black, deliberately setting vehicles ablaze using what investigators believe were Molotov cocktails. In addition to the fires, three rounds were reportedly discharged at the vehicles, causing significant damage.
"This was a targeted attack against a Tesla facility," Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren stated during a press conference, emphasizing the intentional nature of the assault.
The incident is part of a broader pattern of attacks on Tesla properties in cities including Seattle, Kansas City, and Charleston. These attacks appear to have intensified since Tesla CEO Elon Musk's involvement with the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Kim is scheduled for an initial court appearance on Thursday. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force has been collaborating with local law enforcement in investigating the incident, which they currently believe to be an isolated event.
The attack highlights growing tensions surrounding Tesla and its high-profile leadership, raising questions about the motivations behind such targeted violence against automotive infrastructure.
Paul Hyon Kim was booked into the Clark County jail on Wednesday, facing 15 criminal counts including suspicion of arson, property destruction, and firearm-related offenses. The attack occurred on March 18 at approximately 2:45 a.m. at the Tesla Collision Center in Las Vegas.
Surveillance footage captured the suspect, dressed entirely in black, deliberately setting vehicles ablaze using what investigators believe were Molotov cocktails. In addition to the fires, three rounds were reportedly discharged at the vehicles, causing significant damage.
"This was a targeted attack against a Tesla facility," Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren stated during a press conference, emphasizing the intentional nature of the assault.
The incident is part of a broader pattern of attacks on Tesla properties in cities including Seattle, Kansas City, and Charleston. These attacks appear to have intensified since Tesla CEO Elon Musk's involvement with the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Kim is scheduled for an initial court appearance on Thursday. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force has been collaborating with local law enforcement in investigating the incident, which they currently believe to be an isolated event.
The attack highlights growing tensions surrounding Tesla and its high-profile leadership, raising questions about the motivations behind such targeted violence against automotive infrastructure.