Wednesday, 20 November
Police break up camp at Tesla Gigafactory, resistance from activists
Opponents of Elon Musk’s Tesla factory in Grüneheide just outside Berlin are refusing to leave their protest camp for a bomb inspection in the forest. It has triggered a resource-heavy police operation with special forces since Monday, with police citing violations of public safety and order.
Environmental activists protesting the planned factory expansion are refusing to vacate their treehouse camp, even as police begin clearing the area for supposed World War II ordnance inspections. Specialised police climbers have so far removed six activists from their treetop perches, with others remaining defiantly in their place. The operation is set to continue after some protesters scaled new trees overnight, forcing police to maintain a constant presence in the forest. Despite the tension, the scene has been described as non-aggressive, with no physical confrontations reported.
Authorities cite urgent safety concerns, as unexploded WWII bombs have previously been discovered on Tesla’s expansion site. Police spokesperson Beate Kardels has stated, “The area must remain clear for inspection between 8 am. and 4 pm,” though activists argue that the bomb inspections are a pretext to dismantle their camp site.
The group, aligned with the coalition “Tesla den Hahn abdrehen”, regards the intervention as politically motivated. “Politicians are once again exposing themselves and turning themselves into Tesla’s henchman against the will of the majority… [trampling] on our right to protest,” said a spokesperson, calling for supporters to reinforce the camp. Critics accuse authorities of prioritising Tesla’s corporate interests over environmental concerns and democratic freedoms, a sentiment also echoed by local leftist politicians and members of the Bürgerinitiative Grünheide.
The protest camp, active since February, opposes the deforestation required for Tesla’s planned freight depot and warehouse storage areas. Previous ordnance investigations have unearthed two bombs on site. Activists voluntarily evacuated in July after a similar discovery.
Despite having removed three activists who resisted police efforts, the camp remains legally sanctioned for the moment.
